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Transmission of Staphylococcus aureus between mothers and infants in an African setting

F Schaumburg1, A S Alabi, G Mombo-Ngoma

  • 1Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon.

Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|October 15, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Mother-to-infant transmission of Staphylococcus aureus was rare in Gabonese newborns. External sources likely drive infant colonization, posing infection control challenges in African settings.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus colonization is a significant risk factor for invasive infections, particularly in infants.
  • Understanding S. aureus transmission dynamics in infancy is crucial due to the high burden of infections in this age group.
  • The African setting presents unique challenges for controlling S. aureus infections in newborns and infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the transmission patterns of Staphylococcus aureus between mothers and their newborns during the first year postpartum in Gabon.
  • To identify risk factors associated with S. aureus colonization in this mother-infant cohort.
  • To assess the prevalence of specific S. aureus strains, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-producing strains.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal cohort study design was employed, following 311 mothers and 318 infants in Gabon.
  • S. aureus colonization was assessed via swabs from maternal nares and mammillae, and infant nares and throat at delivery and at 1, 9, and 12 months postpartum.
  • Isolates were characterized using spa typing, and risk factors were evaluated through a standardized questionnaire.

Main Results:

  • Colonization rates peaked at 1 month postpartum (40% in mothers, 42% in infants) and declined synchronously thereafter.
  • Maternal S. aureus colonization was identified as a risk factor for infant carriage.
  • Direct mother-to-infant transmission was infrequent (5.6%), suggesting external sources contribute significantly to infant colonization.
  • A notable proportion of isolates carried Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes (56.7%), and 44.4% of MRSA isolates were related to the USA300 clone.

Conclusions:

  • Direct mother-to-infant transmission of S. aureus is uncommon and does not fully explain early infant colonization.
  • External transmission sources are likely significant, highlighting the need for enhanced S. aureus infection control strategies for newborns and infants in African settings.
  • The presence of USA300-related MRSA raises concerns about its potential spread in Central Africa.

Keywords:
AfricaStaphylococcus aureusUSA300infancytransmission

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