title: Role of nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening in the management of skin and soft tissue infections.
abstract: We set out to determine whether nasal swab isolates can identify methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization and guide therapy in skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). Among hospitalized patients admitted to a general medicine service with SSTI, specificity and positive predictive value for MRSA in nasal swab isolates were 100%; sensitivity was 55%. Thus, positive nasal swab cultures may help identify MRSA colonization and guide antimicrobial therapy for SSTI when wound cultures cannot be obtained.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. schleyer@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Anneliese M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schleyer
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Jarman
authors.forename: Jeannie D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Timothy H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Dellit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult