How to Swab the Nose for MRSA
MRSA, also known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, is a dangerous infection that can be acquired in the hospital or within the community, according to the Mayo Clinic. MRSA begins as a small pimple and progresses to an abscess (pus collection) that requires incision and drainage. MRSA is difficult to treat with broad-spectrum antibiotics and can prove lethal. If you develop symptoms, it is important to get a nasal swab of your nose to determine if you have MRSA.
Things You'll Need
- Double swab collection device
- Non-bacteriostatic sterile saline
- Dropper bulb
- Permanent marker
- Plastic transport bag
Instructions
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1
Open the double plastic collection device by peeling back the package's plastic film. Look to see that a plastic transport tube and double cotton swab are present.
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2
Remove both items from the container and dispose of the package.
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3
Twist off the plastic transport tube's cap and throw it away.
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4
Pick up the double cotton swab device and pull one cotton swab out if the patient is less than 12 years old. Leave both cotton swabs there if the patient is 12 years of age or older.
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5
Tilt the patient's head back.
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6
Open the container of the non-bacteriostatic sterile saline solution.
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7
Pick up the dropper bulb and use your thumb and second finger to squeeze the bulb's end. Do not let go.
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8
Dip the plastic tubing of the dropper bulb into the saline solution and squeeze the bulb to extract solution. Saline solution will flow into the plastic part of the dropper bulb.
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9
Place two drops of the non-bacteriostatic saline solution onto the cotton swab portion of the double cotton swab to moisten the cotton.
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10
Insert the swab tip into the patient's right nostril and rotate the swab for three seconds. Repeat for the left nostril.
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11
Place swab into the plastic tube and gently push so the red cap is on tightly.
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12
Label the plastic tube with the initials ROMRS to specify the tube is being ruled out for MRSA.
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13
Place the plastic tube with swab into the plastic transport bag and send it to the microbiology lab.
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