Screening the nose, throat and the naso-pharynx for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a pilot study

Abstract

Patients who carry nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) may also harbour MRSA in the oro-pharyngeal cavity. However, the naso-oro-pharyngeal co-carriage is infrequently assessed. The incidence of concurrent MRSA carriage of the naso-oro-pharynx was ascertained, and the sensitivity of two methods, a throat swab and a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) oral rinse, for MRSA detection was investigated. Among nasal MRSA carriers, 80% harboured MRSA in the oro-pharynx. Among these patients, 15% had MRSA detected in the oro-pharynx and not in the throat. Oro-pharyngeal colonisation represents a significant reservoir to persistence as well as nasal recolonisation. Decolonisation methods effective in reducing oro-pharyngeal MRSA in addition to nasal carriage should be investigated.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Epidemiological Characteristics of Methicillin-Resistant and Susceptible Staphylococcal Isolates from Oral Cavity of Dental Patients and Staff in Northern Japan

“…Furthermore, colonizing S. aureus was only detected in the oral cavity in a substantial part (approximately 25%) of carriers [ 23 , 24 ]. Accordingly, the oral cavity/oro-pharynx has been noted and described as a more significant reservoir of staphylococci than anterior nares, for lower respiratory infections, cross-infection and dissemination to other body sites [ 20 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”