Effectiveness of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus surveillance among exposed roommates in community hospitals: Conventional culture versus direct PCR.

Background: Roommates of unrecognized nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cases are at a higher acquisition risk; however, optimal surveillance strategies are unknown.

Methods: Using simulation, we analyzed surveillance testing and isolation strategies for MRSA among exposed hospital roommates. We compared isolating exposed roommates until conventional culture testing on day 6 and a nasal polymerase chain reaction test on day 3 (PCR3) with/without day 0 culture testing (Cult0).