Differences in prevalence of community-associated MRSA and MSSA among U.S. and non-U.S. born populations in six New York Community Health Centers. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections (SSTIs) in the community in the United States of America. Community Health Centers (CHC) serve as primary care providers for thousands of immigrants in New York. METHODS: As part of a research collaborative, 6 New York City-area CHCs recruited patients with SSTIs. Characterization was performed in all S. aureus isolates from wounds and nasal swabs collected from patients. Statistical analysis examined the differences in wound and nasal cultures among immigrant compared to native-born patients. RESULTS: Wound and nasal specimens were recovered from 129 patients and tested for antibiotic susceptibility. 40 patients were immigrants from 15 different countries. Although not statistically significant, immigrants had lower rates of MRSA infections (n = 15) than did native-born participants, and immigrants showed significantly higher rates of MSSA wound cultures (n = 11) (OR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.3, 9.7). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, immigrants were more likely to present with SSTIs caused by MSSA than US-born patients. Immigants also reported lower frequencies of antibiotic prescription or consumption in the months prior to SSTI infection. This suggests that antibiotic resistance may vary regionally and that immigrants presenting with SSTIs may benefit from a broader range of antibiotics.

publication date

  • October 20, 2016

Research

keywords

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Emigrants and Immigrants
  • Methicillin
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
  • Staphylococcal Infections

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC5154877

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85006164737

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.tmaid.2016.10.003

PubMed ID

  • 27773780

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 14

issue

  • 6