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08:32
Development and Assessment of Intracellular Infection Models for Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: January 17, 2025
Colonization with Staphylococcus aureus in Swedish nursing homes: a cross-sectional study
Magnus Olofsson1, Per-Eric Lindgren, Carl Johan Ostgren
1Ödeshög Health Care Centre, Ödeshög, Sweden. magnus.olofsson@lio.se
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|August 27, 2011
Summary
Screening nursing home residents found Staphylococcus aureus colonization in 50% of participants. While antibiotic resistance was low, fluoroquinolone resistance highlights the need for prudent antimicrobial use.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Screening at-risk populations for bacterial colonization offers superior insights into disease reservoirs and antimicrobial resistance compared to standard lab reports.
- Nursing home residents represent a vulnerable population requiring targeted surveillance for bacterial pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus colonization in Swedish nursing home residents.
- To assess the rate of antibiotic resistance, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), within this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 201 participants from 10 Swedish nursing homes.
- Systematic screening for S. aureus colonization across nasal mucosa, pharyngeal mucosa, groin, and active skin lesions.
- Detection of antibiotic resistance patterns in isolated S. aureus strains.
Main Results:
- Staphylococcus aureus colonization was identified in 50% of participants, with the highest rates in active skin lesions (54%) and throat (35%).
- Antibiotic-resistant S. aureus was found in 8.5% of participants, primarily exhibiting fluoroquinolone resistance.
- No cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization were detected.
Conclusions:
- The overall prevalence of antibiotic resistance in this cohort was low, with fluoroquinolone resistance being the most common.
- Effective screening programs necessitate sampling from both nasal and throat sites.
- The findings underscore the importance of judicious fluoroquinolone use in long-term care facilities to mitigate emerging resistance.
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