Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 5, 2026

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae
09:12

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae

Published on: January 17, 2014

13.3K

Risk of MRSA Infection in Patients with Intermittent versus Persistent MRSA Nares Colonization

Daniel I Vigil1, Wesley D Harden1, Anne E Hines2

  • 11University of Colorado,Preventive Medicine Residency,Aurora,Colorado.

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
|August 21, 2015
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Patients with persistent or intermittent colonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) face a significantly higher risk of invasive infection. This highlights the importance of MRSA screening for all patients.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Microbiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant threat in healthcare settings.
  • Understanding the relationship between MRSA colonization status and invasive infection risk is crucial for effective patient management.
  • Previous studies have explored MRSA colonization but further clarification on risk stratification is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the relative risk of developing invasive MRSA infections among patients with no MRSA colonization (NC), intermittent colonization (IC), and persistent colonization (PC).

Main Methods:

  • An observational cohort study was conducted over 41 months at a tertiary care medical center.
  • 3,872 patients with at least 5 MRSA nasal swab tests were categorized into NC, IC, and PC groups.
  • Cox and Kaplan-Meier analyses were employed to evaluate the association between colonization status and invasive infection.

Main Results:

  • 102 patients developed invasive MRSA infections.
  • Persistently colonized (PC) patients had a 36.8-fold higher risk, and intermittently colonized (IC) patients had a 22.8-fold higher risk compared to non-colonized (NC) patients.
  • The risk of invasive infection was similar between PC and IC patients (HR 1.61).

Conclusions:

  • Both persistently and intermittently colonized patients exhibit a substantially elevated risk of invasive MRSA infection compared to non-colonized individuals.
  • Routine clinical testing for MRSA colonization is supported by these findings.
  • Distinguishing between persistent and intermittent colonization may not be clinically critical due to similar risk profiles.

More Related Videos

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA

Published on: February 9, 2011

23.8K
Determination of Biofilm Initiation on Virus-infected Cells by Bacteria and Fungi12:33

Determination of Biofilm Initiation on Virus-infected Cells by Bacteria and Fungi

Published on: July 6, 2016

10.1K

Related Concept Videos

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within...
41
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more...
37
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and...
113
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
14.6K
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
76
Epistaxis01:30

Epistaxis

Epistaxis, or nosebleeds, occurs when small, swollen blood vessels in the nasal mucous membrane rupture. Typically, the anterior septum is the primary site of occurrence.
Etiology
Possible causes of this condition include high blood pressure, trauma, low humidity, upper respiratory tract infections, allergies, foreign bodies, nasal inhalation of corticosteroids or illicit drugs, excessive use of decongestant nasal sprays, facial or nasal surgery, anatomic malformation, tumors, or systemic...
740