http://repub.eur.nl/res/aut/10443/ List of Publications en http://repub.eur.nl/static-eur/img/logo.png http://repub.eur.nl http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/6966/ 1996-07-01T00:00:00Z The point prevalence and incidence of Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-sensitive and -resistant) carriage by inpatients on acute elderly care wards was estimated. The relationship to body site and to previous admissions to hospital or other institutions was determined. Fifty-five patients were included in the point prevalence study and 136 in the incidence study, which was performed over a two-month period. One in three patients carried S. aureus and 1 in 20 was infected. The incidence rate for MRSA was 2.9%. No endemic strain was found. Nostrils were significantly associated with carriage, and skin break isolates were significant in the point prevalence survey. Screening these sites alone would be most cost effective.