We obtained cultures for S aureus from 5 body sites of women at 35-37 weeks' gestation. We obtained cultures from their newborn infants before hospital discharge.
Of 209 women who were screened, 29 % of the women had at least 1 culture that was positive for S aureus; 5 % of infants were S aureus carriers. The sensitivities of each site for S aureus detection were 52 % nares, 50 % throat, 13 % rectum, 8 % vagina, and 10 % skin. The most sensitive combination of 2 sites was nares and throat (88 % ). Perinatal transmission of S aureus occurred in 4 women. Maternal methicillin-resistant S aureus carriage rate was 1 % . Two infants carried the USA300 methicillin-resistant S aureus.
Screening single body sites is insensitive for the detection of S aureus carriage in pregnancy. Sampling nares and throat is essential to the identification of S aureus carriers.