Bacterial Colonization of the Hospitalized Newborn: Competition Between Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In adults, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus compete for colonization of the nasal mucosa and S. epidermidis strains that produce the Esp serine protease eradicate S. aureus nasal colonization. Whether similar phenomena are seen in newborn infants is unknown.

Methods

Nasal swabs were obtained on admission and discharge from newborn infants (n = 90 and 83, respectively) in the neonatal intensive care unit at UC Davis Children's Hospital. Swabs were cultured for S. aureus and S. epidermidis. S. epidermidis isolates were tested for Esp expression, overall secreted protease activity and biofilm inhibition.

Results

No infant had S. aureus on admission. S. epidermidis colonization was rare on admission in inborn infants (2.5%), but common in in

SUBMITTER: Lee DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6814272 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature