| DESCRIPTION |
Methicillin (or oxacillin)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a
transmission amplifies the number of patients who may become colonized and
who are then at risk for clinical infection.
It is important to capture all positive tests for MRSA, both clinical
cultures and surveillance screening tests (e.g., nares screens). Any
Staphylococcus aureus isolate that is resistant to Methicillin (or
oxacillin) should be captured for this. VHA Laboratory Service must record
results of MRSA tests performed using the following methodology:
1. MI-subscripted tests will be used for clinical cultures (C&S)
pathogen of continuing importance for healthcare facilities. It is a
only. STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS METHICILLIN RESISTANT (MRSA) is the only
etiology that will be used to report positive clinical cultures.
2. CH-subscripted tests will be used for MRSA nares screens or MRSA
surveillance cultures. Laboratory is required to use the following
test names: MRSA SURVL NARES DNA, MRSAL SURVL OTHER DNA, MRSA SURVL
NARES AGAR, MRSA SURVL OTHER AGAR.
Please refer to the "Laboratory Reporting of MRSA Test" for information on
how to setup the standardized test names and etiology.
Gram-positive coccus that can be resistant to multiple antibiotics, causes
NOTE: Adding Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to the MDRO Tools
Lab Parameter Setup is mandatory. The above standards for MRSA laboratory
reporting (clinical cultures and screening tests) have been hard coded
into the MDRO Program Tools software, and does not need to be entered into
the MDRO lab parameters setup. Only historical methods of reporting, that
were different from the national standards need to be entered. The purpose
of adding this pathogen to the parameter set-up is to identify prior
history of MRSA (either by clinical culture or nares screen) based on
laboratory reporting. If the facility fails to use the laboratory
serious disease, and is often difficult to treat. It is the cause of
standards set forth, the program will be unable to generate accurate
reports for data reporting.
healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and is an emerging pathogen from
community-associate sources. MRSA can be cultured from the nares and other
sites in patients who are colonized or infected with the organism. It is
transmitted, in general, by contact, with the hands of patients or health
care workers or inanimate objects contaminated with MRSA. Such
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