Staph screening before surgery

Staph screening is a test to find out if your child is a staph carrier. Staphylococcus aureus (staph) is a type of bacteria that can cause infections. A carrier is a person who has the bacteria on his or her skin but who isn't sick. The test is done by swabbing the inside of your child's nose.

Staph bacteria normally live on the skin and in the nose. In most cases, they don't cause problems. They only become a problem when they cause infection. The infection is more likely to be serious in people who are weak or ill or who are being treated in the hospital.

A staph screening may be done before your surgery so you can be treated if you're a carrier.

Staph infections are more likely to occur in burns or wounds. This includes places on the body where tubes enter or where the doctor makes cuts (incisions) in the skin. Staph bacteria can cause serious infection where they enter the body. The infection can sometimes spread to other places such as the joints or the heart.

Some types of staph bacteria are resistant to many antibiotics. One example is MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

A clean cotton swab will be used to collect a sample from the inside of the nose.

• You don't need to do anything to prepare for this test.
• Tell your doctor if you have recently taken any antibiotics.
• Tell your doctor if you have ever had a staph infection, such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).