This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Boyce, J. M.
Right arrow Articles by Maria, B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Boyce, J. M.
Right arrow Articles by Maria, B.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2005, p. 5992-5995, Vol. 43, No. 12
0095-1137/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.43.12.5992-5995.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Frequency and Possible Infection Control Implications of Gastrointestinal Colonization with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

John M. Boyce,1,2* Nancy L. Havill,1 and Benedicte Maria3

Infectious Diseases Section, Hospital of Saint Raphael,1 Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut,2 University of Nice, Nice, France3

Received 17 May 2005/ Returned for modification 1 August 2005/ Accepted 20 September 2005

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of health care-associated infections. Multiple factors, including transmission from unrecognized reservoirs of MRSA, are responsible for failure to control the spread of MRSA. We conducted prospective surveillance to determine the frequency of gastrointestinal colonization with MRSA among patients and its possible impact on nosocomial transmission of MRSA. Stool specimens submitted for Clostridium difficile toxin A/B assays were routinely inoculated on colistin-naladixic acid agar plates, and S. aureus was identified by using standard methods. Methicillin resistance was confirmed by growth on oxacillin-salt screening agar. For patients whose stool yielded MRSA, information regarding any previous cultures positive for MRSA or other organisms that would require contact precautions was obtained from the laboratory's computer system. During a 1-year period, 151 (9.8%) of 1,543 patients who had one or more stool specimens screened had MRSA in their stool. Ninety-three (62%) of the 151 patients had no previous history of MRSA colonization or infection. Of these 93, 75 were inpatients. Sixty (80%) of the 75 inpatients with no previous history of MRSA were not under "contact precautions." The 60 patients would have spent an estimated total of 267 days without being placed under contact precautions if their positive stool cultures had not resulted in their being isolated. Placing patients under contact precautions based on their positive stool cultures prevented an estimated 35 episodes of MRSA transmission. We conclude that gastrointestinal colonization with MRSA may serve as an unrecognized reservoir from which transmission of MRSA may occur in health care facilities.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Infectious Diseases Section, Hospital of Saint Raphael, 1450 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Phone: (203) 789-3566. Fax: (203) 789-4239. E-mail: JBoyce{at}srhs.org.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2005, p. 5992-5995, Vol. 43, No. 12
0095-1137/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.43.12.5992-5995.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Currie, A., Davis, L., Odrobina, E., Waldman, S., White, D., Tomassi, J., Katz, K. C. (2008). Sensitivities of Nasal and Rectal Swabs for Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in an Active Surveillance Program. J. Clin. Microbiol. 46: 3101-3103 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Harbarth, S., Schrenzel, J., Renzi, G., Akakpo, C., Ricou, B. (2007). Is Throat Screening Necessary To Detect Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in Patients upon Admission to an Intensive Care Unit?. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45: 1072-1073 [Full Text]  
  • Drews, S. J., Willey, B. M., Kreiswirth, N., Wang, M., Ianes, T., Mitchell, J., Latchford, M., McGeer, A. J., Katz, K. C. (2006). Verification of the IDI-MRSA Assay for Detecting Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Diverse Specimen Types in a Core Clinical Laboratory Setting.. J. Clin. Microbiol. 44: 3794-3796 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Moellering, R. C. Jr. (2006). The growing menace of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.. ANN INTERN MED 144: 368-370 [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»