Seasonal variation of respiratory pathogen colonization in asymptomatic health care professionals: A single-center, cross-sectional, 2-season observational study
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the seasonal variance of potentially pathogenic bacterial and viral organisms in nasopharyngeal specimens obtained from asymptomatic health care professionals (HCPs) during the 2014 winter and summer months. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal specimens from 100 HCPs were collected from Huntsville Hospital (Huntsville, AL) during the winter and from 100 HCPs during the summer. All subjects were tested for 22 viruses and 19 bacteria using Target Enriched Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction. Both seasonal cohorts were composed of students, nurses, physicians, and residents. RESULTS: Of the 100 HCPs tested during the winter, 34 subjects were colonized with at least 1 bacterium, and 11 tested positive for at least 1 virus. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Moraxella catarrhalis, and coronavirus were the most frequently detected potentially infectious agents. Of the 100 HCPs tested during the summer, 37 tested positive for at least 1 bacterium, and 4 tested positive for a viral agent. The most prevalent bacteria were MRSA and Klebsiella pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Nasopharyngeal carriage among asymptomatic HCPs was common, but the frequency and presence of potential pathogens varied with each season. Understanding the colonization and infection potential of upper respiratory organisms is important, particularly for viruses. Although asymptomatic HCPs certainly harbor a number of different potentially infectious agents, future studies are needed to determine whether colonized pathogens are transmitted or initiate infection in at-risk patient populations.
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In contrast, of the 100 subjects tested during the summer, 37 harbored at least one bacterium (mainly MRSA and K. pneumoniae) and four tested positive for one virus.
“In contrast, of the 100 subjects tested during the summer, 37 harbored at least one bacterium (mainly MRSA and K. pneumoniae) and four tested positive for one virus (116).”
From Respiratory viral infection-induced microbiome alterations and secondary bacterial pneumonia. (2018) · cites this paper as [116]
The most frequently detected pathogens were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), M. catarrhalis, and coronavirus.
“The most frequently detected pathogens were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), M. catarrhalis, and coronavirus.”
From Respiratory viral infection-induced microbiome alterations and secondary bacterial pneumonia. (2018) · cites this paper as [116]
An investigation of the frequency and seasonal variation in bacterial and viral load in asymptomatic healthcare professionals during the winter and summer months showed that of the 100 subjects tested during the winter, 34 were colonized with at least one bacterial species and 11 tested positive for at least one virus.
“An investigation of the frequency and seasonal variation in bacterial and viral load in asymptomatic healthcare professionals during the winter and summer months showed that of the 100 subjects tested during the winter, 34 were colonized with at least one bacterial species and 11 tested positive for at least one virus.”
From Respiratory viral infection-induced microbiome alterations and secondary bacterial pneumonia. (2018) · cites this paper as [116]
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- Authors
- Hassoun, A., Huff, M. D., Weisman, D., Chahal, K., Asis, E., Stalons, D., Grigorenko, E., Green, J., Malone, L. L., Clemmons, S., & Lu, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Massachusetts Boston (US)
- University of Alabama (US)
- Universal Sensors (United States) (US)
- Corresponding author
- Huff, Matthew D.
- Venue
- American Journal of Infection Control
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-08
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 865-870
- ISSN
- 0196-6553 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7115326
- OpenAlex
- W1656458980
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 2.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- American Journal of Infection Control (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Respiratory viral infections research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Infection Control in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Keywords
- seasonal variation, nasopharyngeal carriage, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, coronavirus, respiratory viruses, respiratory tract bacteria, hospital staff
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Alabama, Bacterial Infections, Moraxella catarrhalis, Carrier State, Cross Infection, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Personnel, Hospitals, Humans, Klebsiella, Male, Middle Aged, Nasopharynx, Respiratory Tract Infections, Seasons, Staphylococcus aureus, Virus Diseases, Coronavirus, Young Adult
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