Detection of Pneumococcal Carriage in Asymptomatic Healthcare Workers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Healthcare workers are at increased risk of exposure to respiratory pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). While little asymptomatic carriage has been reported in young-to-middle-aged adults, this may be due to nonsensitive diagnostic methods. The aim of the current study was to investigate the rates of pneumococcal carriage in a large cohort of healthcare workers, using saliva as a respiratory specimen.

Methods

We evaluated pneumococcal carriage in convenience samples of saliva, self-collected from asymptomatic healthcare workers (Connecticut, USA) who were testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from 30 March to 11 June 2020. DNA extracted from the culture-enriched saliva was later tested using quanti

SUBMITTER: Waghela P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11800483 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature