Staphylococcus aureus--a cross sectional study of prevalence and risk factors in one general practice

Infection control and antibiotic resistant organisms are a community health concern. This article presents findings of a cross sectional study of 100 users of the Thirroul Medical Practice clinical treatment room, in Thirroul, New South Wales.

Nasal Staphylococcus aureus colonisation rates and risk factors were investigated.

Twenty-six percent of participants (n=26) were found to have S. aureus; 11.5% (n=3) of cases were community acquired methicillin resistant S. aureus. Methicillin resistant S. aureus was significantly correlated with older age (p=0.02) and skin infection within the preceding year (p=0.03). Clinical staff (n=15) had low rates of S. aureus at 6.6% (n=1) and no methicillin resistant S. aureus.

Overall, S. aureus rates were unremarkable, but methicillin resistant S. aureus rates were higher than elsewhere with older patients most at risk. General practice staff developing infection control strategies should consider the vulnerable nature and cross-contamination risks in this group of patients. Encouragingly, clinical staff showed low levels of S. aureus and no methicillin resistant S. aureus.