[Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)--relation between respiratory tract and...

The study was conducted to elucidate the possibility of hospital infection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureaus (MRSA) through feces. Fecal cultures of 12 inpatients positive for MRSA in the respiratory tract and 11 inpatients negative for MRSA in the respiratory tract were performed from April to October in 1993. Fecal cultures of inpatients positive for MRSA in the respiratory tract were continued until September in 1996, finally a total of 50 cases were enrolled. MRSA was isolated from feces of 7 patients (58.3%) of the 12 patients positive for MRSA in the respiratory tract, while no MRSA was isolated from feces of 11 patients negative for MRSA in the respiratory tract. Twenty-seven patients (54.0%) of 50 patients positive for MRSA in the respiratory tract yielded MRSA in the feces. Twenty-three patients (85.2%) of the 27 patients positive for MRSA in the fecal flora had received H2-blocker, while 11 patients (47.8%) of the 23 patients negative for MRSA in the fecal flora received H2-blocker; these differences were statistically significantly (p < 0.01). These findings suggest the possible role of feces in hospital infection with MRSA and the necessity for careful administration of H2-blocker to patients positive for MRSA in the respiratory tract.