Interviews were conducted with 23 patients. In general, MRSA screening was accepted as part of the hospital routine and contributed to reassuring participants about hospitals’ commitment and ability to prevent infection. Participants recommended that more information about the screening procedure should be provided, particularly the results of the screen, even if negative. Reactions to being MRSA positive varied from initial shock, a sense of being embarrassed or stigmatized, concern over being a danger to others, to frustration with recurrent colonisation. While decolonisation at home presented few problems, there was evidence of incorrect use of products.