Specific patients more likely to carry MRSA

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April 28, 2010

A new study has found that certain patient populations are more likely to be colonized with Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in their noses, reports Fierce Healthcare. Specifically, researchers found that long-term elder care, HIV-infected and hemodialysis patients are more likely to carry MRSA in their noses. These researchers swabbed the noses of more than 2,000 patients at 13 health centers, 444 of which were MRSA positive.

Another important finding from the study is that patients have different quantities of MRSA in their noses, which can indicate the risk for infection after surgery. Additionally, researchers found different types of strains in the noses of specific patient populations. For example, HIV-infected patients often carried a strain not detected in other patients.

The study will appear in the June issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology

To read more from Fierce Healthcare, click here.