MRSA: It's Right Under (Or In) Our Noses

Research at Rhode Island Hospital revealed that one in five long-term care residents have MRSA colonized in their noses. This places those residents at a higher risk of developing an invasive MRSA infection, such as a bloodstream infection, pneumonia or a surgical site infection.

The study also found that the quantity of MRSA in individuals' noses varied widely, from three to 15 million colonies. A heavier colonization of MRSA is an independent risk factor for developing a surgical site infection.

Approximately 1 percent of the population carries some form of MRSA around in their noses. In addition to long-term care residents, rates also tend to be higher in HIV patients (16 percent), outpatient kidney dialysis patients (15 percent) and inpatient kidney dialysis patients (14 percent).

The researchers noted that the presence of MRSA in the nose does not necessarily indicate infection.