Staphylococcus aureusin Antarctica: carriage and attempted eradication

Abstract

SUMMARYThe carriage ofStaphylococcus aureuswas studied in a group of 28 men living in a totally isolated environment for a year. Initially, nasal, axillary and perineal swabs were taken at weekly intervals, but from week 24 throat swabs were taken from known nasal carriers. Several attempts were made during the study to eradicateS. aureus. Eight subjects consistently carried their own phage type throughout the study, despite the application of antibacterial agents. In three subjects strains were isolated late in the study of a phage type which had either not been isolated before in this study, or had not been found for a prolonged period. Nine of the 12 nasal carriers also yieldedS. aureusfrom the throat. It is apparent that following attempted eradication,S. aureusmay seem to disappear, only to reappear some time later; ‘eradication’ in this case would be an erroneous appellation.