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Staphylococcus aureus carriage among participants at the 13th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to measure the rate of Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization among attendees of the 13th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), particularly with regard to methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains. The 31.4% rate of Staphylococcus aureus colonization detected among the participants was in line with colonization rates reported previously for healthcare workers. A statistical difference was found between the rates of Staphylococcus aureus carriage in physicians (37.4%) and non-physicians (21.7%) but not between males (35.0%) and females (28.9%). Only one participant (a Belgian physician) was found to carry MRSA. Surprisingly, the rate of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus carriage was significantly higher among participants from countries with a low prevalence of MRSA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Microbiology, Nijmegen University Centre for Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre St. Radboud, 440 MMB, P.O. Box 9101, 6500, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    E. Nulens, E. Alp & A. Voss

  2. Department of Medical Microbiology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN, UK

    I. Gould & F. MacKenzie

  3. Laboratoire de Référence MRSA-Staphylocoques, Department of Microbiology, Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, route de Lennik 808, 1070, Brussels, Belgium

    A. Deplano

  4. Laboratory of Hospital Infection, Central Public Health Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory Service, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HT, UK

    B. Cookson

  5. Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 46 Dr. Esquerdo, 28007, Madrid, Spain

    E. Bouza

Authors
  1. E. Nulens
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  2. I. Gould
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  3. F. MacKenzie
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  4. A. Deplano
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  5. B. Cookson
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  6. E. Alp
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  7. E. Bouza
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  8. A. Voss
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Correspondence to A. Voss.

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Nulens, E., Gould, I., MacKenzie, F. et al. Staphylococcus aureus carriage among participants at the 13th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 24, 145–148 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-004-1258-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-004-1258-6

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