Identification of Methicillin‐ResistantStaphylococcus aureusCarriage in Less than 1 Hour during a Hospital Surveillance Program

Abstract

Background. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has spread worldwide and is responsible for significant morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Control strategies to limit the emergence and spread of this organism rely on rapid and sensitive tests for detection of MRSA carriage. However, the standard surveillance culture method for detecting MRSA is labor intensive and time-consuming (2–3 days per procedure). There is thus a need for a rapid and accurate method to screen for MRSA carriage.