There are different collection protocols depending on whether the patient has had or currently positive for MRSA. Handouts(see below) aregiven to the staff so culturing is done in a consistant manner.
A patient who is a newly MRSA positive or is post treatment has all sites collected separately so treatment can be assessed.
Patients who were contacts(e.g. shared a room with) of a patient found to be positive for MRSA and patients transferred from and/or were patients(in previous year) in another hospital, rehab centre, nursing home and/or clinic have many of their swabs pooled. Pooling avoids wasted time and equipment. If a contact is found positive then he/she will be retested with sites being separated.
