Triple swabbing allows sensitive MRSA detection in dermatologic patients of a university tertiary care hospital.

Background: To optimize preventive measures to control MRSA, we investigated retrospectively the suitability of a multiple site screening model and the optimal sampling technique to detect MRSA in a university-based phlebology and skin cancer center in Germany.

Patients And Methods: During 4.5 years samples of 3 712 inpatients in a dermatologic department were analyzed for MRSA by conventional microbiologic cultures and in parallel by PCR.