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National MRSA Reference Laboratory
What we do
The National Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Reference Laboratory (NMRSARL) provides a national service to microbiology staff in Irish hospitals on MRSA isolates for:
- epidemiological typing
- antibiotic resistance detection {especially confirmation of meticillin resistance}
- routine monitoring of the MRSA population in Irish hospitals.
Advice is provided on:
a) treatment through NMRSARl’s medical director
b) laboratory aspects of MRSA through NMRSARL’s scientific staff.
Contact Details
Phone: (01) 410 3662
Fax: (01) 410 3666
Email: mrsarl@stjames.ie
Postal address:
National MRSA Reference Laboratory,
St. James’s Hospital,
James’s Street,
Dublin 8
| Name | Role | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Brian O'Connell | Medical Director | (01) 4162972 | boconnell@stjames.ie |
| Helen Barry | Administrative issues for NMRSARL | (01) 4162986 | hbarry@stjames.ie |
| Grainne Brennan | Routine reports and general laboratory issues. |
(01) 410 3662 | gbrennan@stjames.ie |
Referral Procedure
NMRSARL investigates MRSA isolates from microbiology laboratories in Irish hospitals. NMRSARL does not investigate patient specimens for MRSA. Send fresh subcultures on nutrient agar slopes from 18-h subcultures grown in pure culture on blood agar as soon as possible after isolation (or fresh subcultures from isolates stored at or below -20°C). Isolates must be accompanied by NMRSARL laboratory investigation forms. Please contact NMRSARL before sending isolates for outbreak investigation and/or for a supply of forms.
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