Staphylococci in rheumatoid arthritis

To determine the prevalence of oral staphylococcal carriage in rheumatoid arthritis [RA] patients compared with healthy controls. The study was performed on 27 RA patients and 25 healthy volunteers. Clinical and laboratory data of RA activity were studied. Tongue and anterior nasal swabs were obtained for culture on blood agar. Isolates of Staphylococci were identified and collected from the oral cavity of 96.3% of RA patients, 53.8% of whom carried staphylococcus aureus. The carriage rate of staphylococcus aureus was significantly higher in RA patients than in healthy controls [p<0.05]. The oral carriage of staphylococcus aureus was common in RA patients, which might be the source of septic arthritis in such patients