mrsa testing

[Kaitef0716]

just wondering if someone can clarify something in regards to mrsa testing. so in the unit we mrsa swab everyone right when they're admitted. a lot of the times in the ED they have already been on antibiotics before they are sent to us or have been on the floor a few days on abx before they decompensate and are sent to the unit and then swabbed. I was always taught there is no point to mrsa swab someone if they have already been on antibiotics. just looking for clarification. thanks.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

MRSA is a drug resistant microbe. If they were on abx thar MRSA is not sensitive to the swab would still be effective. It depends

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

If the patient's on methicillin, the results would still be accurate.

[SarahMaria, MSN, RN]

Even if the MRSA is sensitive to an antibiotic, it takes quite a while to eradicate the MRSA from the system. In my case, it took 6-7 months to de-colonize me.