High prevalence of colonization with Staphylococcus aureus clone USA300 at multiple body sites among sexually transmitted disease clinic patients: an unrecognized reservoir

• Published in: Microbes and infection Vol. 14; no. 12; pp. 1040 - 1043
• Main Authors: Miko, Benjamin A., Uhlemann, Anne-Catrin, Gelman, Amanda, Lee, Caroline J., Hafer, Cory A., Sullivan, Sean B., Shi, Qiuhu, Miller, Maureen, Zenilman, Jonathan, Lowy, Franklin D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Masson SAS 01.10.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Bacteriology; Baltimore - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier State - epidemiology; Carrier State - microbiology; Community-associated MRSA; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genitalia - microbiology; Genotype; Groin - microbiology; Humans; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - classification; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - genetics; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Molecular epidemiology; Prevalence; Rectum - microbiology; S. aureus; Staphylococcal Infections - epidemiology; Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology; Baltimore; Molecular epidemiology; Community-associated MRSA; S. aureus; Infection; Human; Sexually transmitted disease; Prevalence; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Genotype; Micrococcaceae; Staphylococcus aureus
• ISSN: 1286-4579; 1769-714X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2012.06.004

Extranasal colonization is increasingly recognized as an important reservoir for Staphylococcus aureus among high-risk populations. We conducted a cross-sectional study of multiple body site colonization among 173 randomly selected STD clinic patients in Baltimore, Maryland. Staphylococcal carriage at extranasal sites, including the oropharynx, groin, rectum, and genitals, was common among study subjects. The USA300 clone was particularly associated with multiple sites of colonization compared with non-USA300 strains (p = .01). Given their high burden of multi-site colonization and confluence of established staphylococcal risk factors, STD clinic patients may represent a community-based reservoir for S. aureus and be well suited for innovative infection control initiatives.