[Repeated studies of the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in the nasal cavity in hemodialysed patients].

OBJECTIVES

In order to better establish a prevention strategy based on mupirocin, we evaluated nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in haemodialysis patients over a 15 month period.

METHODS

Search for Staphylococcus aureus in the nasal cavities was made every 2 months in 92 chronic dialysis patients. These patients were divided into 3 groups according to the nature of the carriage: non-permanent, intermittent or permanent.

RESULTS

Among the 80 patients retained for analysis, there were 27.5% with intermittent carriage and 11.25% with permanent carriage. Factors which appeared to protect against carriage were rural residence and home self-dialysis.

CONCLUSION

Repeated long-term search for nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus has provided reliable data for each patient and gave information on the effects of epidemiological conditions and health care structures.