MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or Multiple Drug Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus which is a serious species of Staphylococcus Aureus that causes difficult to treat infection in humans as these bacteria are resistant to a large group of antibiotics such as Pennicillins, Methicillins,  Dicloxacins and Cephalosphorins.

MRSA test is done by getting swabbing the nose and isolating the bacteria found inside.  MRSA test is useful to determine carrier of such bacteria to minimized the spread of MRSA.  MRSA can can be contagious; patients with open wounds, patients with invasive devices and weakend immne system are susceptible to having MRSA infection. Health workers who do not follow hospital standard precaution can be a a factor of spreading the bacteria as well.

In the Philippines, there are only 2 hospitals which do the MRSA test – St Luke’s Medical Center and The Medical City. The test costs around Php2,000-Php6,800 depending on the length of the result.  Result can be determined as fast as four hours to 5 days.  The faster the result, the more expensive the test will be.