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The study was carried out in the medical assessment unit of the local hospital and district nurse patient (DNP) population in Huntingdonshire. In all, 162 participants were recruited. Factors found to be significantly associated with MRSA colonization were age (76.6 years), presence of wound/ulcer, hospital admission in the past year, past history of MRSA, and antibiotic use in the preceding 6 months. The only independent predictor for MRSA colonization was found to be past history of MRSA. The DNP population are a significant reservoir for MRSA in the community and policies on screening high-risk patients need to reflect this. Journal of Hospital Infection 2007;66:369-73.