title: Use of a primary isolation medium for recovery of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Clinical specimens frequently contain methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates in low numbers or mixed with methicillin-susceptible staphylococci, which can obscure MRSA on nonselective media. By using an oxacillin-containing mannitol-salt-based selective and differential medium on 936 respiratory specimens, we recovered 45% more MRSA isolates (29 versus 20) than on nonselective media alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois 60153.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Van Enk
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media