For this study, researchers used nasal swabs to test for MRSA on all patients who were admitted to a hospital pediatric ICU from May 2008-Sept. 2009. The patients were then assigned to either a MRSA-positive or a MRSA-negative group for further assessment.
The researchers found prevalence of MRSA colonization was relatively low (4.5 percent). Risk factors for positive MRSA colonization in pediatric patients include:
• Younger patients
• Patients with family employed in medicine
• Patients who were recently hospitalized or underwent surgery
• Patient with neonatal ICU stays longer than one week
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