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Decolonization to prevent Staphylococcus aureus transmission and infections in the neonatal intensive care unit

Journal of Perinatology volume 34, pages 805–810 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) continues to be a leading cause of outbreaks and health-care-associated infections in neonatal intensive care units. In the first few months of life, many neonates acquire S. aureus as part of their delicate and evolving microbiota. Neonates that asymptomatically acquire S. aureus colonization are at increased risk of developing a subsequent S. aureus infection. This review discusses the epidemiology and prevention of S. aureus disease in neonates and how decolonization to eradicate S. aureus may decrease S. aureus transmission and infections in the neonatal intensive care unit.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Rebecca Pierce for her thoughtful comments on the manuscript. A.M received grant support through the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society (PIDS) Fellowship Award funded by GlaxoSmithkline

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  1. Department of Pediatrics and Epidemiology, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    V O Popoola & A M Milstone

  2. Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA

    A M Milstone

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Correspondence to A M Milstone.

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AM received previous grant support from Sage Products Inc. VP has no conflict of interest to declare.

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Popoola, V., Milstone, A. Decolonization to prevent Staphylococcus aureus transmission and infections in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Perinatol 34, 805–810 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.128

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