Patterns and predictors ofStaphylococcus aureuscarriage during the first year of life; a longitudinal study

Abstract

Objectives’To determine the patterns of S. aureus carriage in the first year of life, its determinants and dynamics of transmission between mothers and infants.MethodsProspective longitudinal cohort study of S. aureus carriage among mothers and their infants. Monthly screenings from pregnancy/birth through the first year of the infant’s life. Medical and lifestyle data was collected. Infant S. aureus carriage was detected by rectal and nasal swabs and maternal carriage by nasal swabs. Multivariate analysis and an NLMixed model were used to determine predictors of carriage and S. aureus persistence.Results130 S. aureus carrier women and their 132 infants were included in the study. 93% of the infants acquired S. aureus sometime during the first year of life, 64% of them acquired the maternal strain, mostly (66%) during the first month of life. 70 women (52.50%) and 17 infants (14%) carried S. aureus persistently. Early acquisition of S. aureus carriage was associated with longer duration of initial carriage and was the most significant predictor of S. aureus persistence, while day-care center attendance was negatively associated with persistent carriage.ConclusionsEarly acquisition of S. aureus, mostly from the mother, is an important determinant of carriage persistence in infancy.