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Nasal microbiota predictors for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus colonization in critically ill children
Kathleen Zani1, Joseph Hobeika2, Yilun Sun3
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States of America.
Plos One
|January 15, 2025
Summary
Specific nasal bacteria may predict methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus colonization in pediatric intensive care units. This finding could improve early detection and prevention strategies for these resistant infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatric Critical Care
Background:
- Current methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) surveillance in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) is limited and resource-intensive.
- It fails to detect other methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species, necessitating improved detection methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus colonization upon PICU admission.
- To identify nasal microbiome predictors of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus colonization.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study in a 20-bed PICU (2020-2021).
- Collected anterior nares swabs for MRSA culture, nasal microbiome analysis, and mecA+ qPCR within five days of PICU admission.
- Calculated predictive values for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus carriage and nasal microbiome attributes.
Main Results:
- 5 (8.0%) of 62 patients had MRSA-positive nares cultures.
- 22 (35.5%) of 63 patients carried methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA or methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci).
- Fever during PICU stay was associated with MRSA or MRCoNS carriage. Specific microbes (Haemophilus, Streptococcus, Prevotella, Corynebacterium) predicted methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus colonization.
Conclusions:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus carriage poses a transmission risk in critically ill children.
- Distinct nasal microbial communities appear to facilitate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus colonization.
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