An epidemiological study on the occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus in superficial abscesses of patients presenting for surgery in a teaching hospital in Khartoum, Sudan

A group of patients (n = 86) suffering from superficial abscesses was recru ited in the Khartoum Teaching Hospital, Sudan. Detailed clinical and socio- economic data were collected. It appeared that 83% of all patients were you nger than 40. Labourers were most prevalent (28%), followed by students (23 %) and housewives (16%). The head and neck were most often affected (22%), with hands being second (19%). In 92% of all pus cultures a microbial agent s was identified, the large majority being Staphylococcus aureus (69%). Amo ng patients, 47% were nasal carriers of S. aureus, similar to the carriage rate measured among controls, suggesting that nasal carriage is no risk fac tor for abscess development. Multivariate logistic regression analysis reve aled that a history of abscess, recent traditional medical treatment, poor hygiene and low socio-economic status were significantly and independently associated with the occurrence of superficial abscesses. (C) 2000 Federatio n of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.