MRSA screening

MRSA screening

The testing of all members of a particular group of individuals for (benign) cutaneous or nasopharyngeal colonisation by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, to identify those at increased risk of healthcare associated infections, especially MRSA-bacteraemia following an intervention. The current standard in the UK is that all patients in certain groups (see table) undergoing elective procedures should be screened for MRSA. 
Patients needing MRSA screening 
• Burns patients
• Cardiothoracic
• High dependency unit
• Intensive care
• Neonatal
• Neurosurgery
• Oncology
• Orthopaedics patients