Rates of Carriage of Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> in an Outpatient Population

Abstract

MRSA and MSSA colonization is common in our outpatient population. Colonization is best detected by nares cultures and most carriers of MRSA are without apparent predisposing risk factors for acquisition. Colonizing isolates of MRSA are heterogeneous and, unlike nosocomial isolates, often retain susceptibility to other non-beta-lactam antibiotics.