Staphylococcus aureus colonization during military service: a prospective cohort study

Area of Science:

• Military Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• Staphylococcus aureus colonization is a known issue in military settings, potentially leading to skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTI).
• Understanding colonization dynamics in new recruits is crucial for infection control in crowded military environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus colonization in military recruits at the start and end of their first year of service.
• To compare colonization rates between enrolment and discharge.
• To investigate the incidence of Staphylococcus aureus-related SSTI during this period.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study involving military recruits in northern Norway.
• Nasal, throat, and perineal swabs were collected for Staphylococcus aureus identification.
• Methicillin resistance was tested using cefoxitin disc diffusion.

Main Results:

• Staphylococcus aureus colonization increased significantly from enrolment (166/265) to discharge (224/265) (p < 0.001).
• The increase was primarily driven by colonization in the throat, either alone or with nasal colonization.
• All isolates were susceptible to methicillin, and confirmed SSTI was rare (1/265).

Conclusions:

• Military service leads to a significant increase in Staphylococcus aureus colonization among recruits.
• Throat swabs are important for detecting colonization, as approximately 20% of positive cases were solely throat-positive.
• Further research is needed to identify specific Staphylococcus aureus strains responsible for increased colonization.