Nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among smokers and cigarette factory workers

Effects of smoking and tobacco on nasal carriage and colonisation rates of Staphylococcus aureus were investigated on 368 healthy males aged between 3 0 and 40 years old. The study group comprised 100 non-smokers (control grou p), 91 smokers, and 177 cigarette factory workers (42 smokers, 135 non-smok ers). Quantitative cultures were done from the nasal swabs of all participa nts. After identification and determination of colony counts, S. aureus str ains were tested for methicillin resistance using the oxacillin disk diffus ion method. The rates of nasal carriage of S. aureus were found to be 30% i n the control group, 33% in smokers, and 41% in cigarette factory workers. Overall, S. aureus colonisation (greater than or equal to 500 cfu/ml) was d etected in 72% of the carriers (55/76). Colonisation rates were 43%, 63%, a nd 85% in the carriers of the study groups, respectively. An increasing col onisation rate was detected in accordance with the increasing number of cig arettes smoked per day, and smoking period. While methicillin-resistant Sta phylococcus aureus was only found in 3% of the 30 S. aureus strains isolate d from the control group, its isolation rate was 20% in the 30 S. aureus is olates of the smokers, and 33% in the 72 S, aureus isolates of the cigarett e factory workers. These results indicate that cigarette and/or tobacco app ear to have noticeable effects on the ecology of the nose.