Philadelphia, February 10, 2026 – Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (Penn Medicine) have unveiled new strategies to curb the transmission of Staphylococcus aureus in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). This bacterium, commonly known as staph, poses a significant threat to vulnerable newborns, with certain strains causing severe infections.
The findings, published in Nature Communications, provide a critical framework for precision surveillance of staph in NICUs, aiming to reduce infection rates among preterm infants. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to prevent the spread of the most dangerous strains.
Understanding the Threat of Staphylococcus Aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium often found on the skin and in the noses of healthy individuals. While generally harmless, some strains can lead to serious health issues, including bloodstream infections and pneumonia. Alarmingly, a recent study found that staph is responsible for one in four healthcare-acquired infections in very preterm infants in the U.S.
Dr. Lakshmi Srinivasan, an attending physician in the Division of Neonatology and the Pediatric Sepsis Program at CHOP, spearheaded the bi-monthly surveillance sampling. This initiative involves routine nasal swabs of NICU patients to detect the presence of staph. However, the lack of standardized surveillance protocols has left gaps in understanding the best practices for monitoring and controlling these infections.
Collaborative Efforts to Combat Infections
According to Dr. Joseph Zackular, co-senior study author and researcher at CHOP, the study represents a collaborative effort between basic researchers, clinicians, and computational biologists. “Staph is a critical human pathogen and a major cause of severe infection in our highest-risk infants,” he stated. The research aimed to address the significant challenge of staph infections in pediatric health through an interdisciplinary approach.
The study utilized the expertise of CHOP’s NICU, the Center for Microbial Medicine, and other specialized laboratories. Over three years, researchers conducted whole-genome sequencing to identify transmission patterns and strain-specific behaviors. Findings revealed that shared spaces and physical proximity are key drivers of staph transmission in NICUs.
Key Findings and Implications
The research identified two types of staph, MSSA and MRSA, as stable colonizers across NICU environments. Analysis of over 1,000 staph genomes showed that MSSA strains were more prevalent and caused more invasive diseases than MRSA strains. This discovery suggests that targeted prevention strategies should focus on the most transmissible and invasive strains.
“Our study demonstrated that certain strains of staph pose significantly greater risk by being more transmissible and potentially more invasive,” said Dr. Ahmed M. Moustafa, co-senior study author.
The implications of these findings are profound. By isolating and targeting the most dangerous strains, NICUs can implement more effective prevention strategies, potentially reducing the incidence of staph infections among preterm infants.
Future Directions and Broader Impact
Dr. Paul J. Planet, another co-senior study author, emphasized the potential for these findings to inform real-time interventions and improved surveillance across NICUs nationwide. “This study provides a path forward for real-time interventions and improved surveillance that we hope can be implemented in NICUs around the country,” he said.
Supported by the Center for Microbial Medicine at CHOP and a grant from the National Institutes of Health, this research lays the groundwork for future studies and interventions aimed at enhancing the health and safety of preterm infants.
She et al, “Rapid dissemination of Staphylococcus aureus in the neonatal intensive care unit is associated with invasive infection.” Nat Commun. Online February 9, 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69074-z
About Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Founded in 1855, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is the nation’s first pediatric hospital. It has a long-standing commitment to exceptional patient care, training healthcare professionals, and pioneering research initiatives. CHOP’s pediatric research program is one of the largest in the country, and its CHOP Care Network provides advanced pediatric care across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The announcement of this study represents a significant step forward in the fight against healthcare-acquired infections in NICUs. As the research community continues to explore innovative solutions, the hope is that these findings will lead to safer environments for the most vulnerable patients.
