title: Evaluation of a mannitol-salt-oxacillin-tellurite medium for the isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from contaminated sources.
abstract: A mannitol-salt medium supplemented with 0.002% tellurite (MSOT) supported the growth of 104 of 109 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) while suppressing 74 of 102 strains of mannitol-positive, methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. MSOT was equally or more sensitive and more differential than a similar formulation without tellurite for the isolation of MRSA from the skin and nares of hospitalized patients. Only S. haemolyticus produced dark gray-to-black colonies on MSOT similar to those of MRSA. MSOT is a useful adjunct to other nonselective culture formulations for the isolation of MRSA from contaminated sources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33101.
authors.forename: O V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Civetta
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla / Q000382:microbiology; D003470:Culture Media; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008353:Mannitol; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D010068:Oxacillin; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013691:Tellurium
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D008353:Mannitol; D012965:Sodium Chloride; C026899:potassium tellurate(IV); D013691:Tellurium; D010068:Oxacillin