Ecology of Staphylococcal Disease

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Abstract
An epidemiological and bacteriological survey was made of a detached community of young married graduate students with a high proportion of young children to determine the prevalence of presumed staphylococcal disease. Of these families, 94% cooperated. The number of infections reported was higher (31%) for families with children less than 2 years of age as opposed to families (10%) with no children or older children. Larger families had a higher prevalence of infections. Cultures of 388 persons revealed a 57% carrier rate of Staphylococcus aureus, higher than rates reported for other populations. Hospitals are implicated as the origin of the S aureus in this community. Staphylococci are introduced into the home by a colonized newborn and subsequently maintained by carriers in the family—particularly the mother. Housekeeping and laundry practices perpetuate and redistribute the bacteria. HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN ACCUSED of accumulating reservoirs ofStaphylococcus aureus, then colonizing patients and releasing

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