Carriage of multiple subtypes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by intensive care unit patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. To determine how consistently patients are colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at various sites and how many subtypes can be carried simultaneously by a single patient. SETTING. A 28-bed Intensive care unit in a tertiary-care referral hospital. METHODS. A total of 1,181 patients were screened by culture of swab specimens obtained from the nose, throat, groin, and axilla on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), twice weekly during their ICU stay, and at discharge. RESULTS. MRSA was isolated at least once from 224 patients. Of these isolates, 359 were selected from 32 patients to be subtyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The rate of comp..