Microbiologic surveillance using nasal cultures alone is sufficient for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates in neonates.

During an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the neonatal intensive care units at two hospitals, we assessed several sites for detection of MRSA colonization. Nasal cultures found 32 of 33 MRSA-colonized patients (97%). Rectal cultures detected 29% of 24 MRSA-colonized patients identified by paired rectal and nasal samples and axillary samples found 22% of 9 MRSA-colonized patients identified by axillary samples paired with nasal swabs. There were no positive umbilical samples.