The significance of nasal carriage ofStaphylococcus aureusas risk factor for human skin infections

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the significance and the relationship between nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and staphylococcal skin infections. Thirty-one S. aureus strains, isolated from 12 patients with chronic and recurrent skin infections, one patient with septicemia and one patient with otitis externa were studied. The staphylococcal strains were isolated from the site of infection and from the anterior nares of each patient. The identity of both strains of each pair could be demonstrated by determination of phenotypic properties and by genotyping of the isolates. The phenotypic properties included hemolytic activities, antibiotic resistance data, and the production of enterotoxins. The identity was additionally confirmed by phage-typing, by determination of the size and the number of repeats of the X region of spa gene, by determination of gene polymorphisms of coa gene and by macrorestriction analysis of the chromosomal DNA of the isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The present results showed an identity of the S. aureus obtained from anterior nares and from skin infection of each patient indicating the importance of nasal carriage of these bacteria for development of human skin infection.

Cross-contamination: Comparison of Nasal and Chronic Leg Ulcer Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from the Same Patient

“…Previous studies have shown that S. aureus originating in the nasal cavity may contaminate e.g. dialysis access sites [5,6]. Our study suggests that the source of contamination of leg ulcers may be the patients’ anterior nares and further implicates that removal of infecting S. aureus from the leg ulcer may be very difficult if the reservoir (the nasal cavity) remains contaminated.…”

Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in Children With Community-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Skin Infections and Their Household Contacts

“…Colonization with S. aureus is a demonstrated risk factor for subsequent SSTI. 16–18 However, the relationship between S. aureus colonization of household contacts and development of S. aureus infections in index patients is unknown. These relationships must be understood to devise appropriate prevention and treatment guidelines and to implement measures to prevent S. aureus transmission and infections within households.…”

Effectiveness of Measures to Eradicate Staphylococcus aureus Carriage in Patients with Community-Associated Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections: A Randomized Trial

“…Staphylococcus aureus colonization is a demonstrated risk factor for the development of SSTI 4–6. Measures to eradicate S. aureus carriage, including intranasal mupirocin and bathing with chlorhexidine antiseptic, have been evaluated in the prevention of nosocomial infections.…”