Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in outpatients with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, or HIV infection

Abstract

Colonization with methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a growing clinical challenge in both metropolitan hospitals and community care centers. From 1980 to 1989, the University of Michigan Hospital reported a 17-fold increase in MRSA-positive isolates.¹Because nosocomial infection rates in long-term care facilities are 6 times higher in MRSA-positive patients, colonization has significant impacts on morbidity and mortality.²To examine the prevalence of MRSA in cutaneous diseases characterized by high carriage rates ofS aureus, we studied patients with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Patients and Methods. Thirty-three patients with psoriasis, 28 with atopic dermatitis, and 33 HIV-infected patients participated in our study. Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis was supported by the criteria of Hanifin and Rajka.³ Patients completed questionnaires to assess predisposing factors forS aureuscolonization. Two culture specimens from the anterior nares and cutaneous lesions or axillae were obtained using a