Antibacterial use urged for contacts of patients with CA-MRSA

Nerby JM. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011;30:927-932.

It may be prudent to advise those living in a home with a patient with community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to take contact precautions, as about one-quarter of household contacts may become infected after the initial patient, according to a study published online.

Jessica M. Nerby, MPH, of the Minnesota Department of Health, and colleagues examined data on 236 children who were treated for MRSA at 12 Minnesota hospitals, even though they did not have an established health care-associated MRSA risk factor.

Overall, the researchers enrolled 236 households consisting of 236 case-patients and 712 household contacts.

The researchers followed up with the patients 69 days after symptom onset and found that 13% of case-patients and 12% of their household contacts had MRSA nasal colonization. Nerby and colleagues noted nasal colonization in more than one person in 25% of the households.

“Household contacts who assisted the case-patient to bathe or who shared balms/ointments/lotion with the case-patient were more likely to be colonized,” the researchers wrote.

However, they said those household contacts who used antibacterial vs. non-antibacterial soap for hand washing were less likely to be colonized with MRSA.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

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