Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus as a risk factor for skin and soft tissue infections

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is a major risk factor for the development of S. aureus infection, including skin and soft tissue infections and foreign body infections, such as catheter-associated bacteremia and peritonitis. In this article, we review the recent literature on S. aureus nasal carriage, including the emergence of methicillinresistant S. aureus in the community, the pathophysiology of nasal carriage, and the epidemiology and prevention of S. aureus infections associated with nasal carriage.