Non-Pathogenic Bacterial Flora May Inhibit Colonization by Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants

Vol. 93, No. 3, 2008

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Original Paper

Non-Pathogenic Bacterial Flora May Inhibit Colonization by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants
Akiko Shimizu, Kenji Shimizu, Tomohiko Nakamura

Division of Neonatology, Nagano Children's Hospital, Azumino City, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Neonatology 2008;93:158-161 (DOI: 10.1159/000108413)

Key Words

Non-pathogenic bacterial flora
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Extremely low birth weight infants

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate our hypothesis that non-pathogenic bacterial flora inhibit later colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, we performed a retrospective investigation of the association between non-pathogenic bacterial flora and later inhibition of colonization by MRSA in ELBW infants. Methods: A total of 110 preterm infants with birth weight <1,000 g admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Nagano Children's Hospital from January 1997 to December 2003 were analyzed retrospectively with regard to colonization by MRSA during hospitalization. We investigated the incidence of MRSA colonization in 56 infants with non-pathogenic bacterial flora in the oral cavity during the first week after birth and compared them with 54 infants lacking non-pathogenic bacteria. Results: Incidence rate of colonization by MRSA at postnatal week 6 was significantly lower in infants with non-pathogenic bacterial flora in the oral cavity (32.1%) than in infants without such bacteria during the first week of life (77.8%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The present results suggest an important role for non-pathogenic bacterial flora in the oral cavity during early life in prevention of later MRSA colonization in ELBW infants.

Author Contacts

Tomohiko Nakamura, MD
Division of Neonatology, Nagano Children's Hospital
3100 Toyoshina, Azumino City, Nagano 399-8288 (Japan)
Tel. +81 263 73 6700, Fax +81 263 73 5432
E-Mail tnakamura@naganoch.gr.jp

Article Information

Received: December 12, 2006
Accepted after revision: July 10, 2007
Published online: September 18, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 14

Medline Abstract (ID 17878742)

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