MRSA

Healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, typically request MRSA tests. They may be ordered for patients before surgery, those with suspected infections, or in high-risk settings like hospitals, long-term care facilities, and correctional institutions.

MRSA tests are used in various situations:

• Pre-surgery screening to prevent surgical site infections.
• When patients have skin or respiratory infections that don't respond to standard antibiotics.
• In healthcare settings, to monitor and control MRSA outbreaks.
• For residents and staff in long-term care facilities.
• In community settings during outbreaks or among high-risk individuals.

MRSA tests involve taking a sample, often a swab from the nose, throat, or a wound. The sample is then cultured in a laboratory or tested using molecular techniques like PCR to detect MRSA bacteria.