Prehospitalization screening test on the nasal carriage for MRSA to protect against nosocomial infection

Abstract

Recently, treatment for MRSA (methicillin resistantstaphylococcus aureus) infection has been discussed because of resistance against many kinds of antibiotics. In this report, clinical study on the significance of screening of nasal carriage of MRSA for in-patients in our department have been respectively discussed. Specimens were taken from bilateral nasal cavities of inpatients. These were scratched for mannitol salt oxacillin agar culture (MSO Agar culture, Nissui Co. Ltd) and incubated for 24 to 48 hours at 35°C. Positive or negative reactions were judged by yellow-colored colonies and an agar color change from red to yellow. Positive reaction from nasal carriage showed in 13 cases (6.1%) among all examined candidates. All positive patients treated by prophylactic intra-nasal eradication of mupirocin were succeeded in elimination for nasal carriage of MRSA before hospitalization. No postoperative infection of MRSA have been complicated since a screening test for MRSA of the nasal carriage was employed.