Other Services
MRSA Screening
Why screen for MRSA?
It is good to know if you are about to have surgery or a baby as to whether you are a carrier for MRSA. If you are a carrier then
simple treatment can remove MRSA from the body.
We test for MRSA by simply placing a small cotton bud up your nostrils and rubbing it on the inside – gives a tickly feeling.
This is then sent to the laboratory where a test specific for the MRSA bug is performed giving us a result within 2 working days.
What is the treatment if I am a MRSA carrier?
The treatment for this condition is to apply chlorhexidine or aquasept body wash or lotion once a day to your entire body for 5 days.
The lotion is used like a soap in the shower but leave it on your body for 1 minute prior to washing off.
Twice a day you will also need to place a small amount of Bactroban ointment in your nostrils three times a day for 5 days. The
ointment (small bead) should be placed on a cotton bud or little finger and applied to the inside of each nostril. The nose should
then be closed by pinching together the sides at each application (this helps to spread the cream inside the nose).
Treatment has been shown to completely eradicate the MRSA from your body but for how long is difficult to say. However, we can test
you again after your treatment has finished to ensure that this is the case. If you are reinfected then it may be that someone at
home is a carrier and treatment of the entire family is necessary.
Cost for test is £58 which includes the body wash and ointment if you test positive for MRSA