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. 2014 Mar;42(3):260-4.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2013.09.029.

Staphylococcus aureus dispersal from healthy volunteers

Katy-Anne Thompson  1 , Vicky R Copley  2 , Simon Parks  3 , James T Walker  3 , Allan M Bennett  3
Affiliations

Staphylococcus aureus dispersal from healthy volunteers

Katy-Anne Thompson et al. Am J Infect Control. 2014 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Understanding Staphylococcus aureus dispersal from human carriers is vital for preventing transmission and colonization of this organism in health care settings. This study investigated the S aureus supershedder hypothesis in relation to attributes of healthy volunteers.

Methods: Microbial aerosol generation from volunteers was quantified within a controlled environmental chamber during walking or sitting activities. Biological air samplers were used to determine numbers of total S aureus colony-forming units disseminated during these activities.

Results: A total of 17 volunteers was sampled on 3 occasions. Hairstyle (long hair tied up or a shaved head) was the only significant predictor of dissemination of S aureus (5% significance level). No other significant effects were found at the 5% level. A negative binomial distribution provides the best fit with respect to S aureus.

Conclusion: We found that, in the context of our small sample size, hairstyle (long hair tied up or a shaved head) statistically affected levels of bacteria shed from volunteers. However, we found no evidence for "supershedders" or "cloud adults," suggesting they are at an extreme end of a continuous distribution.

Keywords: Andersen; MRSA; Sartorius; Visitor.

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