Colonization and transmission of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> in schools: a citizen science project.

ABSTRACT: Aggregation of children in schools has been established to be a key driver of transmission of infectious diseases. Mathematical models of transmission used to predict the impact of control measures, such as vaccination and testing, commonly depend on self-reported contact data. However, the link between self-reported social contacts and pathogen transmission has not been well described. To address this, we used Staphylococcus aureus as a model organism to track transmission within two secondary schools in England and test for associations between self-reported social contacts, test positivity and the bacterial strain collected from the same students. Students filled out a social contact survey and their S. aureus colonization status was ascertained through self-administered s

SUBMITTER: van Tonder AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10210949 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature