Open AccessStaphylococcus aureus nasal colonization increases the risk of cedar pollinosis
Author(s) -
Morizane Atsushi,
Uehara Yoshio,
Kitamura Satoko,
Komori Masahiro,
Matsushita Masahide,
Takeuchi Seisho,
Seo Hiromi
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of general and family medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2189-7948
DOI - 10.1002/jgf2.530
Subject(s) - colonization , medicine , staphylococcus aureus , subclinical infection , risk factor , population , anterior nares , microbiology and biotechnology , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , bacteria , environmental health , biology , genetics
Abstract Background One‐third of the people in Japan are colonized with Staphylococcus aureus ( S . aureus ) and suffer from virulence factor‐mediated subclinical inflammation of the nares. We investigated whether subclinical inflammation contributed to cedar pollinosis affecting 20 million people annually. Methods The study participants were 814 inhabitants of the A or B prefectures. We compared the colonization rate and population structure of S . aureus , in association with the prevalence of cedar pollinosis, between participants in these two areas. Results A prefecture had twice the annual amount of airborne cedar pollen compared with B. The prevalence of cedar pollinosis was significantly higher in A (23.5%) than in B (13.1%) ( p = 0.0004). Moreover, the prevalence of cedar pollinosis was higher in female participants (23.3%) than in male participants (14.7%) ( p = 0.003). In addition, the prevalence of cedar pollinosis was higher in S. aureus carriers (24.2%) than in S. aureus noncarriers (17.9%) ( p = 0.03). The isolation rate of clonal complex (CC) 508 was higher in the A group (21%) than in the B group (7%) ( p = 0.015). Conclusion Nasal colonization of S . aureus is a major risk factor for cedar pollinosis. However, the direct mechanism of this risk is currently unknown.