MRSA Tests
Reviewed
Also called: MRSA screening, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus culture
A MRSA test looks for MRSA bacteria in a sample of fluid or tissue from your body. The sample is often taken from your nose or a wound.
Specimen: Wound, nose, blood, or urine sample
Urgent safety information
If the bacteria spreads to your bloodstream, it can be dangerous, and you need to get quick medical treatment. Symptoms of a MRSA infection in the bloodstream or other parts of the body include: Fever, Chills, Headache, MRSA rash.
Why this test may be ordered
- To find out if you have a MRSA infection.
- To see if treatment for a MRSA infection is working.
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations for a MRSA test.
A health care provider will take a fluid sample from your wound, nose, blood, or urine. After your test, your sample will be sent to a lab for a bacteria culture test. Most tests take 24-48 hours to get results. There is also a molecular test, which can deliver results much faster. The test, which is done on nasal swabs, can find MRSA bacteria in as little as five hours.
There is very little risk to having a wound sample, swab, or urine test. You may feel a little pain when a sample is taken from a wound. A nasal swab may be slightly uncomfortable. These effects are usually mild and temporary.
Understanding results
To understand the results of a MRSA test, your provider will consider your symptoms, medical history, and the results of other tests.
- Positive, mild skin infection: If your results are positive, it means you have a MRSA infection. Limitation: Certain antibiotics still work for some MRSA infections. Next step: For mild skin infections, your provider may clean, drain, and cover the wound. You may also get an antibiotic to put on the wound or take by mouth.
- Positive, more serious infection: If your results are positive, it means you have a MRSA infection. Limitation: Treatment will depend on how serious the infection is. Next step: For more serious cases, you may need to go to the hospital and get treated with powerful antibiotics through an IV (intravenous line).
- Your provider will consider your symptoms, medical history, and the results of other tests to understand your results.
- Culture results typically take 24–48 hours because bacteria need time to grow; a molecular test on nasal swabs can give results in as little as 5 hours.
What to do next
Take antibiotics as prescribed, making sure to finish the medicine even after you feel better.
- What do my MRSA test results mean?
- How should my infection be treated?
- How can I avoid spreading MRSA to others?
- What symptoms mean I should get care quickly?
Evidence source
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Practices and reference ranges may differ in your country.