Nasal swab for Staphylococcus aureus
nasal staph swab · nose culture · staph carrier test · MRSA nasal screen
This is a swab from your nose. It looks for Staphylococcus aureus, a common germ, and checks which medicines work against it.
Before planned surgery, for health workers, for frequent pimples and boils, or when infection control requires it.
⏱ Duration: the swab takes less than a minute; results usually come in 3 to 5 days
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Nose. For a few hours before the swab, do not rinse your nose or use drops or ointments, unless the doctor said otherwise.
- Antibiotics. It is better to do the test before starting antibiotics. If you already take them, do not stop on your own. Tell your doctor.
- Morning. The swab is usually taken in the morning. You can have breakfast, but do not gargle. Check with the lab.
What to bring
- Your referral
- Your ID
How it goes
- You sit down and tilt your head back a little
- The nurse puts a swab a short way into one nostril
- The swab is turned along the inside of the nose
- The same is done in the other nostril
- The swab is put in a tube
What you'll feel
- It tickles, and you may want to sneeze
- Sometimes your eyes water. It passes right away
Afterwards
- You can go back to your usual day right away
- If staph is found and you have no symptoms, treatment is not always needed. Your doctor decides
- Do not start antibiotic ointments on your own
Common questions
Is staph in the nose an illness?
Often not. Many healthy people carry it in the nose with no harm. Treatment is needed only in some cases.
Why is this test done before surgery?
To lower the risk of a wound infection. If the germ is found, the doctor may prescribe a treatment to clear it.