Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization among HIV-infected adults in Botswana: prevalence and risk factors

We sought to determine the clinical and epidemiologic determinants of Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in HIV-infected individuals at two outpatient centers in southern Botswana. Standard microbiologic techniques were used to identify S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). In a sample of 404 HIV-infected adults, prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriage was 36.9% (n=152) and was associated with domestic overcrowding and lower CD4 cell count. MRSA prevalence was low (n=13, 3.2%), but more common among individuals with asthma and eczema. The implications of these findings for HIV management are discussed.