Screening for carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus shortly after exposure may lead to false-negative results.
We evaluated a double screening strategy for carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in patients exposed to a newly detected MRSA carrier. If the first screening of the exposed patient yielded negative results, screening was repeated 4 days later. This strategy detected 12 (28%) of the 43 new MRSA carriers identified during the study period. The results suggest that there is an incubation period before MRSA carriage is detectable.
Evison
John
J
Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Mühlemann
Kathrin
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors