Epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriage Patterns in the Community

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a Gram-positive opportunistic pathogen that colonizes frequently and asymptomatically the anterior nares of humans and animals. It can cause different kinds of infections and is considered to be an important nosocomial pathogen. Nasal carriage of S. aureus can be permanent or intermittent and may build the reservoir for autogenous infections and cross-transmission to other individuals. Most of the studies on the epidemiology of S. aureus performed in the past were focused on the emergence and dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in healthcare settings. There are, however, a number of more recent epidemiological studies have aimed at analysing carriage patterns over time in the community settings providing new insights on risk factors for colonization and important data for the development of strategies to prevent infections. This chapter aims to give a review of current epidemiological studies on S. aureus carriage patterns in the general community and put them into perspective with recent, yet unpublished, investigations on the S. aureus epidemiology in the general population in northern Germany.