High salivary Staphylococcus aureus carriage rate among healthy paedodontic patients

Staphylococcus aureus can be responsible for oral and dental healthcare-associated infections. Patients with high salivary S. aureus levels are potential sources of infection, because saliva is spread in the environment during dental therapy. This study assessed the salivary S. aureus carriage rate in 97 children (6-12 years) in good general health, attending a paedodontic department. Samples of unstimulated saliva were collected, S. aureus was presumptively identified. The salivary carriage rate was 43% (95% confidence interval, 33%-53%). 6.2% children harboured levels >103 colony forming units/mL. These data suggest that the risk for environmental contamination and infection in dental healthcare settings could be high.