Presence of the neonatal Staphylococcus capitis outbreak clone (NRCS-A) in prosthetic joint infections

Staphylococcus capitis is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus that has been described primarily as causing bloodstream infections in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), but has also recently been described in prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). The multidrug-resistant S. capitis subsp. urealyticus clone NRCS-A, comprising three sublineages, is prevalent in NICUs across the world, but its impact on other patient groups such as those suffering from PJIs or among adults planned for arthroplasty is unknown. Genome sequencing and subsequent analysis were performed on a Swedish collection of PJI isolates (n = 21), nasal commensals from patients planned to undergo arthroplasty (n = 20), NICU blood isolates (n = 9), operating theatre air isolates (n = 4), and reference strains (n = 2), in conjunction with an international strain collection (n = 248). The NRCS-A Outbreak sublineage containing the composite type V SCCmec-SCCcad/ars/cop element was present in PJIs across three Swedish hospitals. However, it was not found among nasal carrier strains, where the less virulent S. capitis subsp. capitis was most prevalent. The presence of the NRCS-A Outbreak clone in adult patients with PJIs demonstrates that dissemination occurs beyond NICUs. As this clone has several properties which facilitate invasive infections in patients with medical implants or immunosuppression, such as biofilm forming ability and multidrug resistance including heterogeneous glycopeptide-intermediate susceptibility, further research is needed to understand the reservoirs and distribution of this hospital-associated pathogen.

Prevalence of nasal carriage of MRSA in diabetic patients attending the outpatient department

Background: Up to 30% of the human population is asymptomatically colonized with nasal Staphylococcus aureus. Study was done to determine the prevalence and risk factors for MRSA colonization as nasal carrier in a population of outpatients with diabetes.Methods: The study enrolled patients with diabetes from whom nasal swabs were obtained and were analyzed for presence of MRSA.Results: Out of the 402 patients evaluated, 254 (63.18%) were colonized with S. aureus and 164 (64.56%) of them were MRSA.Conclusions: Diabetes have more propensity for MRSA colonization than non-diabetic patients. A better understanding of the epidemiology and risk factors for nasal MRSA colonization in the persons with diabetes may have significant implications for the treatment and prevention of MRSA infections.

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among large commercial pig herds in South Africa

The prevalence of nasal carrier status of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in pigs has been described elsewhere, but is unknown in South Africa. To address concerns that exist regarding the zoonotic risk that carriers pose to workers, the herd-level prevalence of MRSA was determined among 25 large (> 500 sows) commercial pig herds in South Africa, representing 45% of the large commercial herds in the country. From each herd, the nasal contents of 18 finisher pigs were sampled at the abattoir, pooled into three and selectively cultured to determine the presence of MRSA. A herd was classified as MRSA-positive if one or more of the three pooled samples cultured positive. Three of the 25 herds tested positive for MRSA, equating to a 12% herd prevalence (95% CI: 7% – 23%) among South African commercial piggeries. The prevalence of nasal MRSA carriers among large commercial pig herds in South Africa was low compared to what has been reported elsewhere and suggests a relatively low zoonotic MRSA risk to workers in South African commercial piggeries and abattoirs.

Draft Genome Sequence of Staphylococcus aureus Strain HD1410, Isolated from a Persistent Nasal Carrier

ABSTRACT We report here the draft genome sequence of a Staphylococcus aureus strain isolated from the nares of an 18-year-old female healthy persistent-carrier individual, and it was used to investigate S. aureus -specific immune responses in colonized and noncolonized individuals.

Nasal carriage and recurrent pyodermas

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> <span lang="EN-IN">Pyodermas are one of the commonest clinical conditions encountered in dermatological practice especially in pediatric practice. Various factors like poverty, malnutrition, overcrowding and poor hygiene have been stated to be responsible for its high incidence. Recurrent pyoderma is another problem encountered by the dermatologist. Nasal carriage of <em>S. aureus</em> has been reported to be an independent risk factor for recurrent pyoderma. The anterior nares are the principal habitat and it has been estimated that some 20% of individuals are persistent nasal carriers; 60-70% are intermittent carriers, about 20% are resistant to nasal colonization.</span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> <span lang="EN-IN">A study was undertaken to know the common types of pyoderma among patients attending the dermatology OPD in a tertiary care centre in central Kerala. It was also aimed to study the correlation between recurrent pyoderma and nasal carrier state.180patients attending the OPD were studied. They were categorized depending on type of pyoderma. Swabs were taken from the lesions and anterior nares. The results were analyzed using SPSS software</span>.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> <span lang="EN-IN">Of the 180 patients studied, 115 had primary pyoderma and 65 had secondary pyoderma. Most common primary pyoderma was impetigo and age group affected was &lt;10 years. 59 patients had recurrent episodes of pyoderma. 43 patients had nasal swab positivity. Of these 43 patients, 30 patients had recurrent pyoderma which is statistically significant. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Primary pyodermas are more common than secondary pyodermas and impetigo is still the leading cause of pyoderma. <span lang="EN-IN">High nasal carriage rates of <em>S. aureus</em> is an independent risk factor for recurrence of pyoderma. Treating the nasal carriage is equally important in the management recurrent pyoderma of the skin.</span></p>