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Staphylococcus aureus in Antarctica: carriage and attempted eradication

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

S. J. Krikler
S. J. Krikler
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology, University of Aberdeen Medical School, Foresterhill, Aberdeen A B9 2ZD
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Summary

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The carriage of Staphylococcus aureus was studied in a group of 28 men living in a totally isolated environment for a year. Initially, nasal, axillary and perineal swabs were taken at weekly intervals, but from week 24 throat swabs were taken from known nasal carriers. Several attempts were made during the study to eradicate S. aureus. Eight subjects consistently carried their own phage type throughout the study, despite the application of antibacterial agents. In three subjects strains were isolated late in the study of a phage type which had either not been isolated before in this study, or had not been found for a prolonged period. Nine of the 12 nasal carriers also yielded S. aureus from the throat. It is apparent that following attempted eradication, S. aureus may seem to disappear, only to reappear some time later; ‘eradication’ in this case would be an erroneous appellation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 97 , Issue 3 , December 1986 , pp. 427 - 444
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

References

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