Nasal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus in active, independent, community seniors.

OBJECTIVE to evaluate the prevalence of nasal colonization with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) in active, independent community seniors and old people in a nursing home. DESIGN cross-sectional brief questionnaire and screening culture of anterior nares specimens from 165 elders at a community centre and cross-sectional data from a recent survey in a nursing home. RESULTS the prevalence of SA colonization in community seniors (27%) was similar to that in the nursing home (29%). The proportion of SA isolates that were methicillin-resistant was much lower in the community seniors (2.3%) than in the nursing-home residents (31%). There was less antibiotic resistance in those living at home. CONCLUSION in community seniors the prevalence of SA colonization was similar to that in nursing-home residents, but the prevalence of methicillin-resistant SA was lower. Susceptibility patterns of antibiotics tested against the SA showed less resistance than isolates from nursing-home patients.