Survival of Staphylococcus aureus on sampling swabs stored at different temperatures

Yagüe, David Panisello; Mihaljevic, Joseph R.; Mbegbu, Mimi; Wood, Colin; Hepp, Crystal M.; Kyman, Shari; Hornstra, Heidie; Trotter, Robert T.; Cope, Emily K.; Pearson, Talima

doi:10.1111/jam.15023

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…After collection, swabs were stored and transported on ice to the laboratory where 1 of the 2 swabs from each body site was used for culturing. The selected swab was stored for no longer than 24 hours at 4°C before culturing to maximize the likelihood of cell survival [ 37 ]. Each such swab was streaked onto CHROMagar S aureus media and incubated for 24 hours at 37°C.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Quantitative Assessment of Staphylococcus aureus Community Carriage in Yuma, Arizona

Russakoff

Wood

Lininger

et al. 2022

The Journal of Infectious Diseases

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Disease control relies on pathogen identification and understanding reservoirs. Staphylococcus aureus infection prevention is based upon decades of research on colonization and infection, but diminishing returns from mitigation efforts suggest significant knowledge gaps. Existing knowledge and mitigation protocols are founded upon culture-based detection, with almost no information about pathogen quantities. We employed a qPCR assay on samples from three body sites to characterize colonization more comprehensively than previous studies by describing both prevalence and pathogen quantity. We show a much higher overall prevalence (65.9%) than previously documented, with higher quantities and prevalence associated with the nares, non-Hispanic males (86.9%), and correlating with colonization in other body sites. These results suggest that research and clinical practices likely misclassify over half of colonized persons, limiting mitigation measures and their impact. This work begins the process of rebuilding foundational knowledge of S. aureus carriage with more accurate and wholistic approaches.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Quantitative Assessment of Staphylococcus aureus Community Carriage in Yuma, Arizona

Russakoff

Wood

Lininger

et al. 2022

The Journal of Infectious Diseases

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“…In the laboratory, one of the two swabs from each body site was used for culturing. The selected swab was stored for no longer than 24 hours at 4°C before culturing to maximize the likelihood of cell survival (Panisello Yagüe et al 2021). Each such swab was streaked onto CHROMagar S. aureus media and incubated for 24 hours at 37°C.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A quantitative assessment of Staphylococcus aureus community carriage in Yuma, Arizona

Russakoff

Wood

Lininger

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of mild and severe infections that occur when these commensal bacteria penetrate the outer layers of skin or mucosa. As most S. aureus infections are the result of autoinfection, and community-acquired infections are increasingly common, it is important to better understand S. aureus colonization characteristics in the community setting. Using standard culture technique and a quantitative PCR assay (SaQuant), we detected and quantified S. aureus across the nares, throat, and palm of 548 community-dwelling individuals in southwestern Arizona. Using culture-based methods, we detected S. aureus colonization in the nares of 26.3% of individuals (n = 144); however, the combination of two detection methods across multiple body sites resulted in much higher prevalence than has been reported previously. Overall, 65.9% of participants were colonized, with significantly higher prevalence in males (compared to females) and non-Hispanics (compared to Hispanics), with this pattern especially evident in nares and throat samples. Colonizing quantities in the nares were slightly higher in males and significantly greater among non-Hispanics. The clear sex and ethnicity patterns warrant further investigation in order to identify and leverage protective factors that may drive these disparities. In the nares, S. aureus density was the highest, most variable, and correlates with colonization in other body sites such as throat and palm. Our results demonstrate that screening by culture-based methods only can miss individuals colonized by S. aureus and that previous carriage statistics are likely underestimates. By including a highly sensitive quantitative assay, this work provides a roadmap towards more comprehensive and accurate characterization of S. aureus carriage and the potential for more effective mitigation.AUTHOR SUMMARYEffective disease control and prevention is tied to pathogen identification and understanding reservoirs. Staphylococcus aureus infection prevention efforts and protocols are based upon decades of research on colonization patterns and associated links to subsequent infection. Unfortunately, efforts to prevent S. aureus infections have been met with diminishing returns, suggesting significant gaps in fundamental knowledge of colonization. However, this knowledge and resulting protocols, are founded upon culture-based detection. By employing a new quantitative PCR assay on samples from three body sites in 548 individuals, we can characterize colonization more comprehensively than previous studies by describing both prevalence and pathogen quantity. Our highly sensitive detection resulted in an overall prevalence of 65.9%. Higher quantities were associated with the nares and were highest among non-Hispanic males (86.9%). Overall prevalence was much higher than has been previously documented. Common research practices, such as culture-based detection from a single body site, may misclassify over half of colonized persons. Future studies incorporating quantitative data, especially with longitudinal sampling at more body sites will provide a more wholistic understanding of community carriage, colonization dynamics, and likelihood of autoinfection and transmission.

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“…For direct detection of S. aureus, we used SaQuant, a quantitative real-time PCR assay with 95.6% sensitivity and 99.9% specificity [6,36]. The other double tipped swab, destined for culturing, was stored at 4˚C in the laboratory for no more than 48 hours before culturing to maximize the likelihood of cell survival [37]. For culturing, swabs were streaked onto CHROMagar S. aureus media and incubated for 24 hours at 37˚C.…”

Section: Detection Of S Aureusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-sectional study of the association of social relationship resources with Staphylococcus aureus colonization in naturally occurring social groups along the US/Mexico border

Barger

Lininger²,

Trotter³

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Asymptomatic carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is a major risk factor for subsequent clinical infection. Diminishing returns from mitigation efforts emphasize the need to better understand colonization, spread, and transmission of this opportunistic pathogen. While contact with other people presents opportunities for pathogen exposure and transmission, diversity of social connections may be protective against pathogens such as the common cold. This study examined whether social relationship resources, including the amount and diversity of social contacts, are associated with S. aureus colonization. Participants were community members (N = 443; 68% Hispanic) in naturally occurring social groups in southwestern Arizona. Four types of social relationships and loneliness were assessed, and samples from the skin, nose and throat were obtained to ascertain S. aureus colonization. Overall S. aureus prevalence was 64.8%. Neither the amount nor the diversity of social contacts were associated with S. aureus colonization. The concurrent validity of the social relationship assessments was supported by their moderate intercorrelations and by their positive association with self-rated health. The results suggest that the association of social network diversity and susceptibility to the common cold does not extend to S. aureus colonization. Conversely, colonization prevalence was not higher among those with more social contacts. The latter pattern suggests that social transmission may be relatively infrequent or that more intimate forms of social interaction may drive transmission and colonization resulting in high community prevalence of S. aureus colonization. These data inform communicable disease control efforts.

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Survival of Staphylococcus aureus on sampling swabs stored at different temperatures

Cited by 10 publications

References 40 publications

A Quantitative Assessment of Staphylococcus aureus Community Carriage in Yuma, Arizona

A Quantitative Assessment of Staphylococcus aureus Community Carriage in Yuma, Arizona

A quantitative assessment of Staphylococcus aureus community carriage in Yuma, Arizona

Cross-sectional study of the association of social relationship resources with Staphylococcus aureus colonization in naturally occurring social groups along the US/Mexico border

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