Does MSSA Colonization Reduce Risk for MRSA Infection?

Compared with carriers of methicillin-resistant S. aureus, uncolonized individuals had significantly lower risk for methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection, and risk was lower still among carriers of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus.

Colonization with Staphylococcus aureus is a risk factor for local or systemic infection with this pathogen; therefore, screening and decolonization of S. aureus carriers prior to surgical procedures is standard practice in many institutions. Because the colonizing strain is also the infecting strain in most cases, individuals colonized with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) could have a lower risk for infection with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).

To test this hypothesis, researchers identified about 90,000 patients in their hospital network who had received nasal SA screening (mostly by polymerase chain reaction) between 2008 and 2016; 6% were MRSA carriers, 14% were MSSA carriers, and 80% were uncolonized patients. About 20…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Does MSSA Colonization Reduce Risk for MRSA Infection?

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Reviewing Author