Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in Healthy Children during the First Year of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Pandemic

Abstract

The early severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic was temporally associated with a reduction in many childhood infections, although the impact on bacterial colonization is unknown. We longitudinally assessed Staphylococcusaureus colonization prior to and through the first year of the pandemic. We observed a decline in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization associated with SARS-CoV-2 prevention mandates.

Keywords: MRSA; SARS-CoV-2; Staphylococcus aureus; colonization; social distancing.