Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in HIV-infected patients: Incidence, risk factors and subsequent skin- and soft-tissue infections.

We evaluated the incidence and risk factors of Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in 300 treatment-naïve HIV patients. Swabs from anterior nares and pharynx were cultured. Eighty-eight patients (29.3%) were colonised with S. aureus (47.7% nasal, 23.8% pharyngeal and 28.5% at both sites), which yielded 112 isolates. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was detected in 25.9% (29/112) of isolates. Panton-Valentine leucocidin gene was present in 18.8% (21/112) of isolates. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified CD4 count <200 cells/mm3, public bath use, alcohol intake and other sexually transmitted infections as independent predictors for S. aureus colonisation. On follow-up, 22.7% of patients with S. aureus colonisation developed skin- and soft-tissue infections. Strategies for behavioural changes would be helpful in controlling S. aureus colonisation and subsequent infection.