Nosocomial vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections have been described in only small numbers of pediatric patients. In none of these studies were multivariate analyses performed to assess which factors were independent risk factors in these patients. In the present cohort study of patients admitted to our hematology/oncology unit, surveillance cultures revealed a colonization rate of...

BACKGROUND Invasive infections from community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) are increasingly being encountered in healthy children. Nasal colonization of MRSA is associated with increased risk for acquiring invasive disease. The objective of this study was to determine prevalence and risk factors for CA-MRSA nasal colonization among a healthy paediatric populati...

PURPOSE Candida colonization in neonates results in significant morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine colonization of Candida spp. in preterm babies and identify the risk factors. METHODS Swabs from oral, rectum, groin and umblicus of 103 preterm and 100 term neonates were obtained within 24 hours of birth, day three, day five, day seven and thereafter every week...

OBJECTIVES To establish risk factors for Clostridium difficile colonization among hospitalized patients in England. METHODS Patients admitted to elderly medicine wards at three acute hospitals in England were recruited to a prospective observational study. Participants were asked to provide a stool sample as soon as possible after enrolment and then weekly during their hospital stay. Samples ...

BACKGROUND Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are common among humans in Aboriginal communities in Canada, for unknown reasons. METHODS Cross sectional study of humans and dogs in an Aboriginal community of approximately 1200 persons. Our objectives were to measure community-based prevalence of nasal MRSA colonization among humans, use multivariable logistic regress...

Background: An increasing number of studies show low diversity of the gut microbiome in those with chronic diseases such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and allergy. Manipulation of the microbiota may promote health. However, the adult microbiota is stable and may be difficult to change. Understanding the fixed and modifiable factors, which determine colonization in early life, may prov...