Persistence of staphyloccocus aureus nasal carriage among industrial hog operation workers and their household contacts in North Carolina

Persistence of staphyloccocus aureus nasal carriage among industrial hog operation workers and their household contacts in North Carolina Public Deposited

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Creator

Pierce, Elizabeth
- Affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering

Abstract

Industrial hog operations (IHOs) are a potential source of exposure to antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). However, the duration of nasal colonization among IHO workers is unknown. In order to better understand nasal carriage patterns, nasal swabs from IHO workers and their household contacts were analyzed for up to four months for the presence of S. aureus and MRSA. Isolates also underwent spa typing and antibiotic resistance testing to determine potential livestock association among isolated bacteria. Results indicate that forty percent of the 175 participants were intermittent carriers and twenty-seven were persistent carriers for S. aureus. None of the participants were persistent carriers for MRSA and eight percent were intermittent carriers. This study demonstrates that nasal carriage of S. aureus can persist among IHO workers and their household contacts over a 4 month period that includes time away from work.

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