Prevalence and molecular characterizations of Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization among patients in pediatric intensive care units in Taiwan

Yu Hsin Chen, Kuan Ying A. Huang, Yi Chuan Huang, Hsin Chi, Chun Yi Lu, Luan Yin Chang, Yu Huai Ho, Chia Yu Chi*, Ching Chuan Liu, Li Min Huang, Tien Yu Owen Yang, Yhu Chering Huang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus is a risk factor for the pathogen transmission and the development of infections. Limited information is available on the prevalence and molecular characteristics of S. aureus colonization in pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Methods: A cross-sectional, island-wide study was conducted in 2011. Nasal swabs were collected from pediatric ICU patients at six tertiary hospitals in Taiwan. Results: Of 114 patients enrolled in total, nasal colonization of S. arueus was detected in 30 (26.3%) of them, among whom 20 (17.5%) with methicillin-resistant S. arueus (MRSA). The ST59/SCCmec IV and V clones were most common and accounted for 45% of MRSA isolates, followed by ST239/SCCmec III (25%) and ST45/SCCmec IV (20%) clones. Three ST59 MRSA isolates carried the Panton-Valentine Leukocidin genes. Conclusions: The results indicated a high prevalence of S. arueus and MRSA nasal colonization among pediatric ICU patients in Taiwan. Identification of epidemic clones warrants the implement of infection control measures to reduce colonization and prevent the dissemination of MRSA in hospitals.

Original languageEnglish
Article number41
JournalAntimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 27 02 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Molecular typing
  • Nasal colonization
  • Pediatric intensive care unit
  • Prevalence
  • Staphylococcus aureus

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