High prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureuscolonization among healthy children attending public daycare centers in informal settlements in a large urban center in Brazil

Abstract

S. aureus and MRSA colonization prevalence among children attending DCCs in informal settlement census tracts was higher than previously reported in healthy pre-school children in Latin America. Our data suggest that transmission may occur more frequently in DCCs rather than at home, highlighting the importance of DCCs in AGSNs as potential MRSA reservoirs. This finding underscores the importance of local epidemiologic surveillance in vulnerable AGSN communities.