Relationship between the incidence patterns of Staphylococcus aureus in nostril anteriors of trade school students and the history of allergic diseases

Staphylococcus aureus in nostril anteriors of 199 trade school students was surveyed 8 times from May 1997 through February 1998. A survey by questionnaire for their history of allergic diseases was also performed. S. aureus were isolated at least once from 73 students and not at all from 126 students. Of the 73 students, 55 were temporary carriers, while S. aureus was always found in 18 students. The correlation between S. aureus carrier status and history of allergic diseases is significant at the 0.1% level (Yates chi(2) test).