Association between nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and infection in liver transplant recipients

Clin Infect Dis. 2000 Nov;31(5):1295-9. doi: 10.1086/317469.

Abstract

We reviewed the records of 87 patients who underwent liver transplantation and who were screened by use of nasal swabs on the day before surgery. Twenty-four patients harbored methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), and 8 harbored methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). MSSA infection occurred in 3 (12.5%) of 24 MSSA carriers and in 2 (3.2%) of 63 noncarriers (nonsignificant). In contrast, MRSA infection occurred more frequently in MRSA carriers (7 [87.5%] of 8) than in MRSA noncarriers (8 [10.1%] of 79; P<.001). Nasal carriage of MRSA is associated with a very high risk of MRSA infection in liver transplant recipients.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Methicillin / pharmacology
  • Methicillin Resistance
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasal Cavity / microbiology*
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Methicillin