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MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ) is a type of staph infection that can spread through skin-to-skin contact, contaminated surfaces, or water droplets. While it’s usually caught in a hospital or clinical settings, it’s also really common in areas where you have close physical contact with people, such as locker rooms or at home with your family. [1] X Research source It usually lives on the skin without causing difficulties, but in some cases, it may develop into a serious infection. When MRSA is thought to be the cause of an infection, testing is necessary to confirm a diagnosis and start early intervention. Read on to learn more about how to test for MRSA.
Steps
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Know when to suspect an MRSA infection. [2] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source If you have a cut that isn't healing properly, MRSA may be the cause. Infections caused by MRSA don't necessarily look different from other types of infections. Here are the hallmarks of an MRSA infection: [3] X Trustworthy Source University of California San Francisco Health Center Research hospital associated with UCSF, a leading medical university, providing innovative patient care and public health resources Go to source
- A red, raised sore that looks like a spider bite
- A swollen and pus-filled cut
- A fluid-filled blister with a honey-colored crust
- An area of red, firm skin that is warm or hot to the touch
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Get tested if you've had contact with someone has MRSA. Since MRSA is spread by skin contact, it's wise to get tested if you have been in contact with someone you know to have MRSA. You should also get tested if you live in an area that has a high prevalence of MRSA since it increases your chances of contracting it. [4] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to sourceAdvertisement
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Get tested if your immune system is compromised. This will include elderly individuals, those who are infected with HIV, or someone with cancer. [5] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- You should also get tested if you’ve recently been hospitalized or have used antibiotics.
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Have a culture done. A healthcare professional will swab the wound and take a culture test. [6] X Trustworthy Source University of Rochester Medical Center Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research Go to source This is taken to a lab for further investigation. The laboratory will place the culture test into a solution and examine it for MRSA. If the sample contains Gram-positive cocci clusters, MRSA is likely the culprit.
- The sample is also tested for Staphylococcus aureus . [7] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source This is performed with a latex agglutination test. The sample is placed in a tube that holds rabbit plasma and free coagulase. If staph is present, a clump will form and further testing will be done to determine whether or not the bacterium is resistant to antibiotics.
- If MRSA is present, the specimen will continue to grow at the same rate despite the medicine. This process only takes one or two days.
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Get the nasal passage tested. Another MRSA test involves swabbing the nostrils. A sterile swab is used to collect a sample that is placed in incubation and observed for the presence of MRSA. The lab process is similar to what is conducted with the swab from a wound. Within 48 hours, there will be an answer to the test. [8] X Trustworthy Source University of California San Francisco Health Center Research hospital associated with UCSF, a leading medical university, providing innovative patient care and public health resources Go to source
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Have a blood test. The FDA has recently developed a new blood test for MRSA. [9] X Research source Clinical tests were done and showed positive results. These tests managed to identify all positive specimens of the MRSA bacteria. They give faster results than with tests that involve swabbing. They are meant to be used on people who are likely to have a staph infection, but must be backed up with other tests.
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1Apply warm compresses to help promote drainage. If you have any abscesses, furuncles, or carbuncles from MRSA, then get a warm compress and hold it gently against the area. If the infection is less than 2 inches (5.1 cm) in circumference, compresses may be enough to treat it.
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2Have the infection drained by a medical provider. If home treatment doesn’t work, ask your doctor if they can do incision and drainage. Your doctor will make a small cut and let the liquid drain out from inside. If your infection is in a sensitive area, like your face or gential region, then your doctor may refer you to a specialist.
- You may not need antibiotics after getting an abscess drained.
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Take antibiotics you are prescribed. In addition to incision and drainage, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help fight your infection. Take the full course, even if your symptoms improve quickly. If your symptoms don't go away, call your doctor.
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Avoid spreading it to others. If you have MRSA, you should avoid touching other people. Wash your hands often, especially before you eat or prepare food, before and after using the bathroom, and before and after changing your dressings. This will help prevent other people from getting MRSA.
- You may want to clean surfaces you routinely touch, like keyboards and electronics. [10] X Trustworthy Source University of California San Francisco Health Center Research hospital associated with UCSF, a leading medical university, providing innovative patient care and public health resources Go to source
- MRSA can be spread through sneezing and coughing.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhy is a gram stain not helpful in identifying MRSA from a wound swab?Dr. Ziadie is a board certified Pathologist in South Florida. She specializes in renal, transplant, and pediatric Pathology and has over 12 years of experience. She earned her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 2004 and completed her fellowship in Pediatric Pathology at Children’s Medical Center in 2010.A gram stain only identifies the general nature of a bacteria. It does not tell whether or not a bacteria has acquired resistance to an antibiotic.
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QuestionCan MRSA be mistaken for a viral infection, eczema, or the flu?Dr. Ziadie is a board certified Pathologist in South Florida. She specializes in renal, transplant, and pediatric Pathology and has over 12 years of experience. She earned her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 2004 and completed her fellowship in Pediatric Pathology at Children’s Medical Center in 2010.Yes. If proper testing (cultures from the wound or blood) is not done and only the symptoms are evaluated, then MRSA can be mistaken for many things.
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QuestionWhich area is used for the red swab?Dr. Ziadie is a board certified Pathologist in South Florida. She specializes in renal, transplant, and pediatric Pathology and has over 12 years of experience. She earned her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 2004 and completed her fellowship in Pediatric Pathology at Children’s Medical Center in 2010.You will need to use the swab either on a suspected wound or on the inside of the nose.
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Tips
- It is essential to recognize symptoms of MRSA and seek medical attention immediately. It often appears as a red pimple or spider bite that is red and leaks pus.Thanks
- When swabbing a wound that is suspected to contain the MRSA bacteria, it is important to not disturb the wound, since it may spread the bacteria.Thanks
- Since it can take a few days to be positively diagnosed with MRSA, a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic that must be taken faithfully until the results are available.Thanks
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Warnings
- MRSA can be an extremely dangerous condition. It is vital to speak with a doctor when it is suspected so that tests can be taken.Thanks
- More than one test may be necessary to make a conclusive MRSA diagnosis.Thanks
- Sometimes a person will be considered a carrier for this condition. This means that this person is not affected by MRSA, but can spread it to others.Thanks
- MRSA may be brushed off as a regular staph infection, but it is essential to insist on an MRSA test.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-mrsa
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mrsa/symptoms-causes/syc-20375336
- ↑ http://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/mrsa_testing/
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/community/index.html
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mrsa/symptoms-causes/syc-20375336
- ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=mrsa_culture
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/staph.html
- ↑ https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/mrsa_testing/
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20080102/fda-oks-1st-quick-mrsa-blood-test
About This Article
Article Summary
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You should test for MRSA if you have a wound that won’t heal, if you’ve come into contact with someone who has MRSA, or if you have a weakened immune system. This will most likely involve swabbing your wound and sending the sample off to a laboratory. Alternatively, you might be asked for a nasal passage test, in which a healthcare professional swabs inside your nostrils. They may also want to take a blood sample, which can yield faster results than swabs. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including how to deal with MRSA, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I had pinprick size sore on my cheek for 3 months but doctor ignored. The scab fell off daily and touch feels like a needle stab. Dermatology refused to test. They froze it but it still oozes and stabs after 2 weeks and is now much larger. My primary doc wants to refreeze it. But I want it tested. Your article shows how and why. I will search until I find a decent doc to do this." ..." more
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"I had pinprick size sore on my cheek for 3 months but doctor ignored. The scab fell off daily and touch feels like a needle stab. Dermatology refused to test. They froze it but it still oozes and stabs after 2 weeks and is now much larger. My primary doc wants to refreeze it. But I want it tested. Your article shows how and why. I will search until I find a decent doc to do this."
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"All info in the article is helpful, especially knowing when to get tested. I went to a dermatologist with a nasty "pus volcano" on my neck. He didn't even suggest MRSA, just prescribed Septra DS. Four days later, I had surgery and a four day hospital stay."
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"What helped most was going into detail about testing and what tests to ask for."
"The article was excellent. "
