Neves FPG, et al. - In view of the observation that populations in middle/low-income countries are disproportionately impacted by Staphylococcus aureus and beta-hemolytic streptococci diseases, researchers compared colonization frequency of these organisms among children from communities of different socioeconomic status (SES) in a city with high income inequality to examine if the disparity is reflected there. Between May-August 2014, nasal and throat swabs from 598 children who attended private and public pediatric clinics were collected and investigated; S. aureus colonization was observed in 221 (37%), of which 49 (22%) were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Middle/low SES residents had higher MRSA colonization (n=18; 14%) vs residents in high SES (n=17; 6%) and slum (n=14; 8%) areas. These findings support the existence of different bacterial colonization profiles, including MRSA carriage, among children from different SES communities. Public health officials need to consider SES when appraising disease transmission and control measures.