Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization is common in groin and rectal areas, especially in men, new research shows.

After the nose, the rectal and groin areas were frequent sites of colonization of community-associated MRSA, the authors said, indicating MRSA surveillance programs need to go beyond identifying nasal MRSA colonization. Surveillance swab specimens were collected at Stroger Hospital of Cook County, IL,  in 2011 and 2012. 

Results were scheduled to appear in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.