Diagnostic Accuracy of a Nasal Rapid Staphylococcus aureus PCR Test in Intubated Children With Severe Community-acquired Pneumonia

Observational studies demonstrate that nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) surveillance swabs have a high negative predictive value for MRSA infections. This prospective study of 94 children intubated for severe pneumonia showed a negative predictive value of >99% for rapid MRSA nasal polymerase chain reaction swabs performed at diagnosis, suggesting they could aid initial antibiotic prescription in critically ill children with pneumonia.