Hand colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the community

Abstract

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections (CA-MRSA) have been reported with increasing frequency during the past decade. Colonization plays an important role in the epidemiology of such infections. However, colonization studies have focused mostly on hospital settings and only a few have been carried out in communities. This was a study of the frequency of hand colonization by S. aureus in general and by CA-MRSA, by means of phenotypical and molecular methods, in 800 adults from the community who had no relationship with the health area.

Staphylococcus aureus colonization was found in 65 individuals (8.1%) and MRSA was present in 5 (0.63%). The 5 MRSA strains were found to have mec chromosomic cassettes (SCCmec) of either type IV or V, typical of CA-MRSA. Our study provides evidence of CA-MRSA colonization in the hands of individuals from the community. This constitutes an important risk factor, not only by its association with subsequent infections, but also for the risk of dissemination of this microorganism to the general population.