MRSA screening
MRSA (Meticillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a bacteria that often lives harmlessly on the skin—when it lives on the skin without causing infection this is called ‘being colonised’.
MRSA likes to live in moist, warm areas such as inside the nose, the groin and under the arms. MRSA is resistant to some but not all antibiotics. Whilst living on the skin it doesn’t usually cause any problems but it can cause infection if it gets into a wound or into a catheter or drip. MRSA infections are treated with strong antibiotics that are only used for MRSA.
- For further information, download the Simple Guide to MRSA (PDF)
If you are coming into Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for planned or emergency surgery you will be screened for MRSA either before you are admitted or on the day of admission.
We will screen your nose, armpit and groin to see if you are colonised with MRSA. If you are found to be colonised—don’t worry—it doesn’t mean that you have an infection and need antibiotics. You will be given creams to get rid of the MRSA from your skin. Eradicating the MRSA makes it less likely that you will get an infection after your operation.
- Download our MRSA Screening Policy (PDF)
