Background To effectively detect surgical patients carrying methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a pediatric ward, we investigated who should be tested through bacteriological surveillance on admission. Methods In 1124 patients, bacteriological examination of throat swabs and stool samples was performed within 48 hours after admission. The relations between carrier rate (CR) of MRSA and a history of hospitalization, neurological disorder (ND), and age group were retrospectively investigated. Results The CR of all patients was 7.8%. The CRs of the patients with no history of hospitalization, a history of hospitalization before the previous year, and a history of hospitalization within the past year (HWPY) were 2.3%, 3.4%, and 14.5%, respectively; the CR of those with HWPY was significantly higher than the CRs of the other 2 groups (p<0.0001). The CR of the patients with an ND (19.2%) was significantly higher than that of the patients without an ND (6.1%) (p<0.0001). The CRs of the patients <3 (11.7%) and 15 (11.9%) years old were higher than that of other patients (3.8%) (p< 0.05). With multivariate logistic regression analysis, HWPY, an ND and age groups <3 and k15 were independent risk factors. Conclusions - HWPY, an ND, and being <3 or k 15 years old were found to be risk fqctors for carrying MRSA on admission. Active bacteriological surveillance on admission should be performed for patients with these risk factors.