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Staphylococcus aureus colonisation and its relationship with skin and soft tissue infection in New Zealand children

Mark R Hobbs1,2, Cameron C Grant3,4,5, Mark G Thomas6,7

  • 1Growing Up in New Zealand, The Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand. m.hobbs@auckland.ac.nz.

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
|August 2, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) colonization in children increases the risk of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). Reducing S. aureus prevalence may lower community-onset SSTI incidence.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Public health

Background:

  • New Zealand faces high rates of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) among children.
  • Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) colonization is a known risk factor for hospital-acquired infections.
  • The link between S. aureus colonization and community-onset SSTI in children requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) colonization and the risk of community-onset skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) in children.
  • To identify specific sites of S. aureus colonization that pose a higher risk for SSTI.
  • To explore the influence of socioeconomic and ethnic factors on SSTI risk.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Growing Up in New Zealand cohort, including interviews, administrative records, and bacterial cultures (nose, throat, skin swabs) at 4.5 years of age.
  • Employed multivariable log-binomial regression to calculate adjusted risk ratios (aRR) for SSTI.
  • Analyzed S. aureus isolation rates and their correlation with SSTI incidence before age five.

Main Results:

  • Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was found in 43.4% of children, and 29.4% experienced SSTI before age five.
  • S. aureus colonization at any site was associated with an increased risk of SSTI (aRR = 1.09).
  • Skin colonization showed the strongest association with SSTI within the year prior to swabbing (aRR = 1.47), with colonization in the year before swabbing also significant (aRR = 1.18).

Conclusions:

  • Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) colonization is linked to an elevated risk of community-onset skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) in children.
  • Socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and eczema independently impact SSTI risk.
  • Interventions targeting S. aureus colonization could potentially decrease the incidence of community-onset SSTI.

Keywords:
ChildCohort studiesSkin diseases, infectiousSoft tissue infectionsStaphylococcal infectionsStaphylococcus aureus

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