Nasal swabs collected routinely to screen for colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in intensive care units are a sensitive screening test for the organism in clinical cultures.

Background: Many hospitals screen patients for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). We hypothesized that this screening information could be used to assist with empiric antibiotic decisions.

Methods: The medical records of patients admitted to a university-affiliated community hospital as well as a tertiary-care university hospital were reviewed.