Impact of colonization pressure and strain type on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus transmission in children

Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Nov;57(10):1458-60. doi: 10.1093/cid/cit542. Epub 2013 Aug 13.

Abstract

We studied the transmissibility of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (HA-MRSA) strains and the association of MRSA colonization pressure and MRSA transmission in critically ill children. Importantly, we found that in hospitalized children MRSA colonization pressure above 10% increases the risk of MRSA transmission 3-fold, and CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA strains have similar transmission dynamics.

Keywords: colonization pressure; healthcare-associated infections; intensive care unit; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; transmission.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carrier State
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child, Preschool
  • Community-Acquired Infections / microbiology
  • Community-Acquired Infections / transmission
  • Cross Infection / microbiology*
  • Cross Infection / transmission*
  • Female
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Male
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*
  • Nasal Cavity / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / transmission*