Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus by members of the University of Port Harcourt community, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

A study of factors affecting nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among non-hospitalized persons at the University of Port-Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, showed that carriage was influenced primarily by age (p=0.0344). Carriage was found to be 50% among primary school pupils, ages 5 to 11 years and 29.4% among university students and adult workers, ages 23 to 45 years. Other characteristics including gender, frequency of bathing, washing of hands, sickness, occurrence of catarrh or cold, nose bleeding and use of various medications did not influence carriage of S. aureus.



Keywords: Nasal carriage, Staphylococcus aureus, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

AJAZEB Vol. 6 2004: pp. 16-20