U.S. Micro-Solutions, Inc. Environmental Laboratory
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Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a pathogenic gram positive coccus that is resistant to traditional antibiotics normally used to treat infection. MRSA emerged in the 1980's as a major clinical and epidemiologic problem in hospitals. It has become more relevant in community acquired infections and associated with schools or anywhere people have close contact. Staphylococcusaureus resides principally in the throat, nose, axilla, and groin area and can cause a wide range of illness from minor skin infections to systemic disease with fatal outcomes. MRSA is transmitted
through skin-to-skin contact or through contact with
items contaminated by infected sites. Staphylococcus is able to exist on surfaces for up to six hours.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 126,000 hospitalizations are related to MRSA infections each year.
Careful hand washing & personal hygiene are the single most effective ways to control the spread of MRSA.
Staphylococcus aureus infections represent 1.5% of the total of all bacterial infections.
Approximately 32% of the US population is colonized with Staphylococcus aureus and approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA.
75% of all MRSA infections are skin & soft tissue infections with 11.6 million visits to Healthcare Associations each year.
A few guidelines when surface sampling for MRSA:
Do not use “Q-tips” or other cotton swabs intended for personal use. These swabs are not appropriate for environmental sampling of MRSA.
Prior to collection, swabs should be moistened with sterile water or in the transport fluid in the swab container to enhance particle collection.
Swabs should be delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible and protected from temperature extremes during transport.
Note: A measured
area may be swabbed when a culture is ordered. This way, the
lab can provide the results in units of CFU per square inch. However, many sampled areas will not allow for a measured area (e.g. door handles, faucet handles). These areas will be reported as
CFU/swab. An area between 1 to 4 square
inches is recommended.
Need a Chain of Custody or Would You Like to View a Sample MRSA Report?
U.S. Micro-Solutions, Inc. MRSA reports are in easy to read format giving you all the information you need to locate the area of infection. Click here to view a sample MRSA report.
Ship or deliver your samples along with your completed Chain of Custody/Laboratory Test Request Form to:
U.S. Micro-Solutions, Inc. 485C Willow Crossing Road Greensburg, PA 15601
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