Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, gender and smoking status. The Tromsø Staph and Skin Study

• DOI: 10.1007/s10096-011-1331-x
• Publication Date: 2011-08-02T14:43:21Z
• Authors: K. Olsen; B. M. Falch; K. Danielsen; M. Johannessen; J. U. Ericson Sollid; I. Thune; G. Grimnes; R. Jorde; G. S. Simonsen; A.-S. Furberg
• Keywords: Microbiology (medical); Adult; Male; 0301 basic medicine; Staphylococcus aureus; VDP::Medical disciplines: 700::Clinical medical disciplines: 750::Communicable diseases: 776; Nose; Article; 03 medical and health sciences; VDP::Medisinske Fag: 700::Klinisk medisinske fag: 750::Infeksjonsmedisin: 776; Sex Factors; Risk Factors; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Vitamin D; VDP::Medical disciplines: 700::Basic medical, dental and veterinary science disciplines: 710::Medical molecular biology: 711; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Smoking; VDP::Medical disciplines: 700::Basic medical, dental and veterinary science disciplines: 710::Medical microbiology: 715; Middle Aged; Staphylococcal Infections; 3. Good health; Infectious Diseases; VDP::Medisinske Fag: 700::Basale medisinske, odontologiske og veterinærmedisinske fag: 710::Medisinsk immunologi: 716; VDP::Medisinske Fag: 700::Basale medisinske, odontologiske og veterinærmedisinske fag: 710::Medisinsk mikrobiologi: 715; Carrier State; Female; VDP::Medical disciplines: 700::Basic medical, dental and veterinary science disciplines: 710::Medical immunology: 716; VDP::Medisinske Fag: 700::Basale medisinske, odontologiske og veterinærmedisinske fag: 710::Medisinsk molekylærbiologi: 711

Vitamin D induces the expression of antimicrobial peptides with activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, we studied the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and S. aureus nasal colonization and carriage. Nasal swabs, blood samples and clinical data from 2,115 women and 1,674 men, aged 30-87 years, were collected in the Tromsø Staph and Skin Study 2007-08, as part of the population-based sixth Tromsø Study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were stratified by recognized risk factors for S. aureus carriage: sex, age and smoking. In non-smoking men, we observed a 6.6% and 6.7% decrease in the probability of S. aureus colonization and carriage, respectively, by each 5 nmol/l increase in serum 25(OH)D concentration (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001), and serum 25(OH)D > 59 nmol/l and ≥75 nmol/l as thresholds for ~30% and ~50% reduction in S. aureus colonization and carriage. In non-smoking men aged 44-60 years, the odds ratio for S. aureus colonization was 0.44 (95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.69) in the top tertile of serum 25(OH)D versus the bottom tertile. In women and smokers there were no such associations. Our study supports that serum vitamin D is a determinant of S. aureus colonization and carriage.