Staphylococcus aureus: Determinants of human carriage

•S. aureus carriage rate varies with geographic location, age, sex and body niches.•Nose, throat and groin are important for niches S. aureus colonisation, at least for MRSA.•S. aureus ClfB and IsdA have been shown to be involved in nasal colonisation in vivo•Allelic variants of specific host genes have been associated with carriage.•Hormonal contraceptives, smoking, crowding and healthcare exposure are possible risk factors.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common human commensal but carriage varies between e.g. geographic location, age, gender, ethnicity and body niche. The nares, throat and perineum are the most prevalent sites for carriage in the general adult population. Other sites of the skin and the intestine are also frequently colonised. Thus, a successful establishment is dependent on multiple factors. This review describes results from observational studies of S. aureus carriage and the influence bacterial, host and environmental/modifiable factors might have on the relationship.