Open AccessScreening the nose, throat and the naso-pharynx for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a pilot study
Author(s) -
Joy Uwemedimo,
Deirdre Fitzgerald-Hughes,
Peter M. Kinnevey,
Anna C. Shore,
David C. Coleman,
H. Humphreys,
T.T. Poovelikunnel
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of infection prevention
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.43
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 1757-1774
pISSN - 1757-1782
DOI - 10.1177/1757177420921915
Subject(s) - pharynx , medicine , throat , nose , staphylococcus aureus , carriage , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , nasal cavity , microbiology and biotechnology , surgery , pathology , bacteria , biology , genetics
Patients who carry nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) may also harbour MRSA in the oro-pharyngeal cavity. However, the naso-oro-pharyngeal co-carriage is infrequently assessed. The incidence of concurrent MRSA carriage of the naso-oro-pharynx was ascertained, and the sensitivity of two methods, a throat swab and a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) oral rinse, for MRSA detection was investigated. Among nasal MRSA carriers, 80% harboured MRSA in the oro-pharynx. Among these patients, 15% had MRSA detected in the oro-pharynx and not in the throat. Oro-pharyngeal colonisation represents a significant reservoir to persistence as well as nasal recolonisation. Decolonisation methods effective in reducing oro-pharyngeal MRSA in addition to nasal carriage should be investigated.