The Clinical Utility of MRSA Nasal Surveillance Swabs in Ruling-Out MRSA Infections in Children

In a study of 165 hospitalized children with suspected infection, an initial negative MRSA surveillance swab had a negative predictive value of 99.4% for the development of subsequent MRSA infections. Negative MRSA surveillance swabs are a reliable tool for de-escalating anti-MRSA therapy in children. The utility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal surveillance swabs has not been well-described in children. This retrospective, cohort study yielded a negative predictive value of 99.4% for an initial negative MRSA nasal surveillance swab in 165 hospitalized children with a suspected infection and clinical cultures obtained from a likely site of infection.