Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40037564›Full record

ArticleAge and ageing2025

Oropharyngeal Staphylococcus aureus is linked to higher mortality in long-term aged care residents.

Sophie J Miller, Frank Zhang, Steven Taylor, Richard Woodman, Andrew P Shoubridge, Lito E Papanicolas, Geraint B Rogers

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Age and ageing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Sophie J MillerLifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID 0009-0003-3889-7941
Frank ZhangMicrobiology and Infectious Diseases, SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Steven TaylorLifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Richard WoodmanCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
Andrew P ShoubridgeLifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Lito E PapanicolasLifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Geraint B RogersLifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Funding

Australian Department of HealthAustralian Department of Health GNT1152268Australian Medical Research Future FundMatthew Flinders Professorial FellowshipNational Health and Medical Research Council GNT119378NHMRC Emerging Leadership GNT2008625
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBiological ageing, healthcare interactions, and pharmaceutical and environmental exposures in later life alter the characteristics of the oropharyngeal (OP) microbiome. These changes, including an increased susceptibility to colonisation by pathobiont species, have been linked with diverse health outcomes.

objectivesTo investigate the relationship between OP microbiome characteristics and all-cause mortality in long-term aged care residents.

methodsOP swabs were collected from 190 residents of five aged care facilities in South Australia. Microbiota composition was assessed by shotgun metagenomics and related to health outcomes during a 12-month follow-up period. OP carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin resistance was confirmed by qPCR.

resultsOP carriage of S. aureus was identified in 13 (6.8%) residents. Detection of S. aureus was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality (adjusted HR [95% CI]: 9.7 [3.8-24.9], P < .0001), compared with non-carriers, independent of methicillin resistance. Staphylococcus aureus carriage demonstrated a stronger association with mortality risk than the total number of comorbidities at the univariate level (S. aureus HR [95% CI]: 7.2 [3.4-15.5], P < .0001 vs. comorbidity count HR [95% CI]: 1.1 [1.0-1.3], P = .03), and remained significant after multivariable adjustment. Staphylococcus aureus detection was significantly associated with total number of comorbidities (adjusted OR [95% CI]: 1.4 [1.0-2.0], P = .04).

conclusionOP S. aureus carriage predicts all-cause mortality in long-term aged care. We speculate that S. aureus carriage represents a marker of general health, including prior healthcare exposures. OP S. aureus carriage could contribute to estimations of general health in older individuals and thereby inform care strategies.

Indexed as

Carrier StateHomes for the AgedNursing HomesOropharynxStaphylococcal InfectionsStaphylococcus aureusAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsComorbidityCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLong-Term CareMaleMicrobiotamethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA)microbiomenursing homesolder people

Identifiers

PMID40037564
PMCPMC12264333

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.