Nose specimen {Only one swab for right and left nares}
Combined sources may be submitted together in one culture swab tube and ordered as one culture.
A double bacterial culture swab is also acceptable.
ESwab standard tip collection kit (white)
Other bacterial culture swab with Amies or Stuarts liquid transport media
Other bacterial culture swab with Amies or Stuarts liquid transport media
ESwab:
Refrigerated - 48 hours
Ambient - 48 hours
Other swabs:
Ambient - 24 hours
Culture
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are a problem in hospitals due to their nosocomial transmission and their resistance to multiple antibiotics. Patients with MRSA have increased morbidity and mortality and are at increased risk for surgical site infections. To prevent transmission of infectious agents, health care institutions have instituted Standard Precautions, including the use of gloves, gowns, mask, and eye protection and safe injection practices. In addition, contact precautions, such as placing the patient in a single-patient room and special room cleaning, are instituted for MRSA and other agents that are transmitted by direct or indirect contact with the patient or the patient's environment. Identifying patients who are colonized with MRSA by culturing the anterior nares or other sites may help prevent the spread of this organism.