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Hormonal contraceptives use linked to nasal S. aureus carriage
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Women taking hormonal contraceptives were more likely to be nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus, researchers from Germany reported.
The researchers, from the Institut für Tropenmedizin in Tübingen, Germany, conducted a cohort study that included 1,180 healthy volunteers. The volunteers provided two nasal swab samples at baseline and two swabs at least 28 days later. Of these, 22.5% were considered persistent nasal carriers of S. aureus because they had at least two positive swabs.
Among women, those using hormonal contraceptives were more likely to be persistent carriers of S. aureus compared with women who were not (OR=1.88; 95% CI, 1.29-2.75). The association remained after adjustment for age, animal contact, current smoking, history of skin infection and intention to travel. After a median follow-up of 70 days, women taking hormonal contraceptives were more likely to remain carriers than women not taking hormonal contraceptives (OR=3.25; 95% CI, 1.44-7.34). In addition, after excluding women using hormonal contraceptives, men were more likely to be persistent nasal carriers than women (OR=1.57; 95% CI, 1.08-2.28).
“This finding is in line with published observations and is biologically supported by prevailing concepts on the role of reproductive hormones in modulating the interaction of host and pathogen,” the researchers wrote. “If further research can establish causality, the strength of the observed effect together with the widespread use of hormonal contraceptives would translate into major impact on the human S. aureus reservoir, with potential implications for S. aureus transmission and infection.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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