Epidemiology and Infection
- Epidemiology and Infection / Volume 140 / Issue 09 / September 2012, pp 1721-1724
- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268811002421 (About DOI), Published online: 13 December 2011
MRSA
Screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in community-recruited injection drug users: are throat swabs necessary?
E. LLOYD-SMITHa1 c1, M. W. HULLa2a3, D. HAWKINSa1, S. CHAMPAGNEa2, T. KERRa2a3 and M. G. ROMNEYa1a2
a1 Infection Prevention and Control, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, Canada
a2 Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
a3 British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, Canada
SUMMARY
We examined and described colonization of MRSA in the anterior nares and throat from 184 community-recruited injection drug users. Thirty-seven (20%) were positive for MRSA: most (34, 92%) were carriers in the nares; while only three (8%) were carriers detected by throat swabs alone. The majority (29, 78%) of MRSA isolates were PVL positive.
(Accepted November 01 2011)
(Online publication December 13 2011)
Key Words:
Correspondence:
c1 Author for correspondence: Dr E. Lloyd-Smith, Infection Prevention and Control, Providence Health Care, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.(Email: elloydsmith@providencehealth.bc.ca)
