Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in children with allergic rhinitis and the effect of intranasal fluticasone propionate treatment on carriage status

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the rate of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus (NCSA) in children with allergic rhinitis (AR) and to determine the effect of intranasal fluticasone propionate spray on the NCSA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nasal swabs were taken from the children admitted to general pediatrics and pediatric pulmonology clinics. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of AR. Diagnosis of AR was based on the patient's symptoms. Nasal swabs were taken from AR patients before and after the treatment with intranasal fluticasone propionate, and from the control group at the beginning and after 2 months. RESULTS: Whole NCSA rate was 17.9%; it was 21.4% for AR patients and 15.9% for control group, respectively (p>0.05). Treatment with intranasal fluticasone propionate spray did not influence NCSA in AR patients. CONCLUSION: It seemed that NCSA was not increased in children with AR and treatment with intranasal fluticasone propionate spray did not change NCSA in AR patients. It is obvious that better understanding of the factors affecting the acquisition and loss of NCSA might increase our knowledge about the relationship between NCSA, allergic airway diseases and their treatments.