Tuberc Respir Dis.  2009 Nov;67(5):409-412.

Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in the Upper Respiratory Tracts of Korean Military Recruits

• Choi CM
• Kang CI
• Kim YK
• Heo ST
• Kim CH
• Song JK
• Jung HS

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Several large outbreaks have demonstrated the threat of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in close-contact environments, such as occurs during training and quartering of military recruits training. In South Korea, which is a hospital or healthcare-associated MRSA prevalent area, military service is compulsory for all healthy young men. We surveyed and determined the extent of CA-MRSA colonization in the upper respiratory tracts of Korean military recruits.
METHODS
The Korean military recruits who were enrolled in a military training facility from November 2004 to March 2005 were eligible for this study. Sputum or nasopharyngeal swap was obtained from randomly selected subjects who displayed upper respiratory tract symptoms.
RESULTS
Of the 181 participants, 32 participants (17.7%) were colonized with S. aureus, and 12 participants (6.6%) were colonized with MRSA. Among the cases that were colonized with S. aureus, 37.5% (12/32) were colonized with MRSA. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed resistant patterns that were suggestive of the CA-MRSA strains for all of the MRSA isolates.
CONCLUSION
This study of Korean military recruits found a great deal of showed MRSA colonization in them, and the antimicrobial resistant profile that was suggestive of a CA-MRSA strain. Further efforts to prevent the spread of MRSA infections and careful monitoring for CA-MRSA outbreaks are warranted, especially in a high risk group such as military recruits.

Keyword

Staphylococcus aureus; Methicillin Resistance; Military Personnel

MeSH Terms

Colon
Disease Outbreaks
Humans
Male
Methicillin Resistance
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Military Personnel
Republic of Korea
Respiratory System
Sprains and Strains
Sputum
Staphylococcus aureus

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