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Dutch researchers: Nasal carriers of S. aureus should be classified into two groups
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Intermittent carriers and non-carriers of Staphylococcus aureus had similar nasal elimination kinetics and antistaphylococcal antibody profiles, whereas persistent carriers did not, according to findings from research conducted in the Netherlands. The researchers believe that nasal carriers of S. aureus should be classified into two types: persistent carriers and others.
Prior to the study, the carriage state of 51 participants was determined. Participants were decolonized by self-administered mupirocin treatment. The researchers then artificially colonized the participants with a mixture of S. aureus strains.
The researchers compared intranasal survival of S. aureus between carriage groups. Additional comparisons of antistaphylococcal antibody levels were made with 83 carriage classified volunteers.
Persistent carriers were significantly more likely to select their own resident strain from the inoculation mixture than intermittent carriers, 58% vs. 17% (P=.02).
Post inoculation, persistent carriers were colonized for 154 days, intermittent carriers were colonized for 14 days and non-carriers were colonized for 4 days. There were significantly more colony-forming units on swab samples from persistent carriers than there were on swab samples from intermittent carriers or non-carriers (P=.004). Intermittent carriers and non-carriers had equal levels of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A to 17 S. aureus antigens, whereas persistent carriers did not.
Van Belkum A et al. J Infect Dis. 2009;199:1820-1826.