Lifestyle-Associated Risk Factors for Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Carriage in the Netherlands: An Exploratory Hospital-Based Case-Control Study: e65594

• Published in: PloS one 2013-06, Vol.8 (6)
• Main Authors: Rijen, M Lvan, Bergh, Q Kluytmans-vanden, Verkade, Erwin JM, Ham, B Gten, Feingold, Beth J, Kluytmans, A JW
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Staphylococcus aureus
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065594

Background Community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) is rapidly increasing. Currently, it is unknown which reservoirs are involved. An exploratory hospital-based case-control study was performed in sixteen Dutch hospitals to identify risk factors for CA-MRSA carriage in patients not belonging to established risk groups. Methods Cases were in- or outpatients from sixteen Dutch hospitals, colonised or infected with MRSA without healthcare- or livestock-associated risk factors for MRSA carriage. Control subjects were patients not carrying MRSA, and hospitalised on the same ward or visited the same outpatients' clinic as the case. The presence of potential risk factors for CA-MRSA carriage was determined using a standardised questionnaire. Results Regular consumption of poultry (OR 2 times 40; 95% CI 1 times 08-5 times 33), cattle density per municipality (OR 1 times 30; 95% CI 1 times 00-1 times 70), and sharing of scuba diving equipment (OR 2 times 93 95% CI 1 times 19-7 times 21) were found to be independently associated with CA-MRSA carriage. CA-MRSA carriage was not related to being of foreign origin. Conclusions The observed association between the consumption of poultry and CA-MRSA carriage suggests that MRSA in the food chain may be a source for MRSA carriage in humans. Although sharing of scuba diving equipment was found to be associated with CA-MRSA carriage, the role played by skin abrasions in divers, the lack of decontamination of diving materials, or the favourable high salt content of sea water is currently unclear. The risk for MRSA MC398 carriage in areas with a high cattle density may be due to environmental contamination with MRSA MC398 or human-to-human transmission. Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings and to determine the absolute risks of MRSA acquisition associated with the factors identified.