Staphylococcus aureus genomes isolated from the pharynx and nose of persistent and intermittent carriers

The pathophysiology of Staphylococcus aureus in nasal carriers has been extensively studied, however, it must be admitted that the clinical relevance of S. aureus carriers in the pharynx has not been extensively investigated. This omission appears to be justified, since the nose is mentioned as the primary site of S. aureus colonization. Some studies mention a higher rate of carriers in the pharynx than in the nose when samples are taken in parallel. The objective of the work is to identify if there are genetic differences between strains of S. aureus isolated from persistent and intermittent carriers of the pharynx and nose.