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Patterns and Predictors of Staphylococcus aureus Carriage during the First Year of Life: a Longitudinal Study

Aylana Reiss-Mandel1,2, Carmit Rubin1,3, Ayala Maayan-Mezger4

  • 1Infection Prevention and Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|July 5, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Most infants acquire Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in their first year, often from their mothers. Early S. aureus acquisition predicts longer carriage duration and persistence in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common bacterium carried by humans.
  • Understanding S. aureus carriage in infants is crucial for public health.
  • Maternal transmission is a key factor in early-life S. aureus colonization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) carriage patterns in infants during their first year of life.
  • To identify determinants of S. aureus carriage and transmission dynamics between mothers and infants.
  • To analyze predictors of S. aureus persistence in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective longitudinal cohort study involving monthly S. aureus screenings of mothers and infants from pregnancy/birth through the infant's first year.
  • Collection of medical and lifestyle data.
  • Multivariate analysis and nonlinear mixed-effects models (NLMIXED) to identify carriage predictors and persistence factors.

Main Results:

  • 93% of infants acquired S. aureus within the first year; 64% acquired the maternal strain, primarily within the first month.
  • Early S. aureus acquisition was the strongest predictor of persistent carriage.
  • Day care center attendance showed a negative association with persistent S. aureus carriage.
  • Persistent carriage was observed in 52.5% of mothers and 14% of infants.

Conclusions:

  • Early acquisition of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), predominantly from maternal sources, is a significant determinant of carriage persistence in infants.
  • Interventions targeting early-life S. aureus transmission may reduce long-term carriage.
  • Further research into the impact of environmental factors like day care on S. aureus colonization is warranted.

Keywords:
S. aureusinfantslongitudinal

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