StaphTrav - European network on imported Staphylococcus aureus

StaphTrav is a collaboration for the surveillance of imported Staphylococcus aureus in Europe. This network consists of professionals in travel medicine, infectious diseases, epidmiology, hospital hygiene and microbiology. We focus on the introduction of more virulent and antibiotic resistant strains through intercontinental travel. We aim to promote public health by providing data on the importation on such strains and to define risk groups for targeted interventions.

How does it work? Participating centres are requested to submit swabs of travel related skin and soft tissue infections or already isolated Staphylococcus aureus together with brief information on travel characteristics (case form) to the centre in Heidelberg. In case Staphylococcus aureus can be isolated from the material, information on antibiotic resistance and molecular typing will be redistributed to the submitting institution (for research use only!). Results will be periodically summarized and provided to all centres and made available to public health authorities in Europe. For detailed information (inclusion criteria, ethical issues, shipping of specimens etc.) see download section at the right margin of this page.

Criteria for inclusion of patients

• Patient has pus producing skin infection on day of clinic visit.
• Onset of skin infection while abroad or within 30 days after entry into the EU.
  (NOTE: The first clinic visit can be later than 30 days after returning from a stay outside the EU as long as the timepoint of onset is within the given trimeframe.)
• Submitting centre is located in the country of the patient's residence

• nasal and lesional swabs (standard culture swab with transport medium)
• short questionnaire with patient information (anonymized)
• cost for packaging and posting patient material within Germany (Maxibrief, 2.40 Euros)
• international transport via TNT will be covered by StaphTrav (details upon request)

• results of Staphylococcus aureus culture (positive/negative)
• results of methicillin resistance testing
• results of strain genotyping
• joint publication