Kawabata A, et al. - The diagnostic value of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal swab and suction drain tip cultures in the management of surgical site infections following spinal surgeries was assessed herein. For predicting SSI, MRSA nasal swab and drain tip cultures were not useful. Nonetheless, drain tip culture had a high positivity rate in the SSI group and the coincidence rate for the causative pathogen was relatively high.