Nasal carriage status of pathogenic Staphylococcus epidermidis in man

摘要

Since long it has been recognised that nasal cavity is the suitable habitat for Staphylococcus aureus (a coagulase positive Staphylococcus), an established pathogen for various clinical conditions (Kloos, 1980). Of late, the S. epidermidis, a memberof coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) group, has also gained its increasing clinical importance by virtue of certain virulence properties and their commensal status bring forth to recognise them as the skin microflora. But no such systematic study has been reported so far regarding the habitat of S. epidermidis in the nares of human beings, Hence the present study was aimed at to determine the nasal carriage status of S. epidermidis in the outdoor patients (OPD) (apparently healthy)reporting with minor and superficial ailments.