Frequency of detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from rectovaginal swabs in pregnant women

published online 19 October 2009.

Clinical samples from 250 pregnant women undergoing screening for rectovaginal group B streptococcus colonization were evaluated concurrently for the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Overall, S aureus was detected in 21.6% of the women; 53.7% of the isolates were MRSA. Despite a lack of risk factors for MRSA colonization, rectovaginal MRSA was detected in 10.4% of pregnant women in this study.

Key Words: MRSA, pregnancy, Staphylococcus aureus, infection control, contact precautions

a Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, Nashville, TN

b Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN

c Departments of Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

Address correspondence to C. Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Children's Hospital, 1161 21st Avenue South, CCC-5311 MCN, Nashville, TN 37232-2573.

C.B.C. has served as a consultant to Pfizer and receives grant support from Merck, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Astra Zeneca, and Pfizer. B.L., T.R.T, and W.S. have no potential conflicts of interest.

PII: S0196-6553(09)00756-1

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2009.06.015

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