The role of nasal carriage in Staphylococcus aureus burn wound colonization |
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Authors: | Mirjam Kooistra-Smid Marianne Nieuwenhuis Alex van Belkum & Henri Verbrugh |
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Institution: | Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, Groningen, The Netherlands;;Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Burn Centre, Martini Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands;;and Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Thermal injury destroys the physical skin barrier that normally prevents invasion of microorganisms. This and concomitant depression of local and systemic host cellular and humoral immune responses are important factors that contribute to colonization and infection of the burn wound. One of the most common burn wound pathogens is Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus is both a human commensal and a frequent cause of infections leading to mild to life-threatening diseases. Despite a variety of infection control measures, for example patient cohorting and contact precaution at burn centres, S. aureus is still frequently encountered in burn wounds. Colonization with S. aureus has been associated with delayed wound healing, increased need for surgical interventions, and prolonged length of stay at burn centres. In this minireview, we focus on S. aureus nasal carriage in relation to S. aureus burn wound colonization and subsequent infection, and its impact on strategies for infection control. |
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Keywords: | Staphylococcus aureus burn centre nasal carriage wound colonization |
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