Open AccessAn epidemiological study on the occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus in superficial abscesses of patients presenting for surgery in a teaching hospital in Khartoum, Sudan
Author(s) -
Mahdi Seif Eldin Ibrahim,
Ahmed Abdalla Osman Abadalla,
Boelens Hélène,
Ott Alewijn,
Abugroun El Sir,
Belkum Alex,
Zijlstra Eduard,
Verbrugh Henri,
Fahal Ahmed
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2000.tb01518.x
Subject(s) - staphylococcus aureus , medicine , epidemiology , carriage , logistic regression , abscess , hygiene , surgery , risk factor , pathology , biology , bacteria , genetics
A group of patients ( n =86 ) suffering from superficial abscesses was recruited in the Khartoum Teaching Hospital, Sudan. Detailed clinical and socio‐economic data were collected. It appeared that 83% of all patients were younger than 40. Labourers were most prevalent (28%), followed by students (23%) and housewives (16%). The head and neck were most often affected (22%), with hands being second (19%). In 92% of all pus cultures a microbial agents was identified, the large majority being Staphylococcus aureus (69%). Among patients, 47% were nasal carriers of S. aureus , similar to the carriage rate measured among controls, suggesting that nasal carriage is no risk factor for abscess development. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of abscess, recent traditional medical treatment, poor hygiene and low socio‐economic status were significantly and independently associated with the occurrence of superficial abscesses.