The Nose As Bacterial Reservoir: Important Differences Between the Vestibule and Cavity

UNLABELLED: The difference between the spectra of potential bacterial pathogens (PBPs) in the nasal vestibule and cavity has not been taken into account in clinical studies. PURPOSE: Since one can anticipate different flora in different kinds of mucosae, the authors compared bacterial species in the vestibule with those of the cavity. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A total of 534 healthy male clerical workers in a downtown Lucerne office building were examined with fractionated swabs. RESULTS: PBPs, notably Staphylococcus aureus, were found in 412 subjects and surprisingly, differences in flora of the two sites were noted in 130 of them: PBPs were observed in the vestibule and not in the cavity in 85 of the subjects, and in 45 of them, the reverse was true. CONCLUSION: The practical implications of these findings are considerable regarding infection control in patients at increased infection risk.