Evaluation of three methods for the rapid identification of Staphylococcus aureus in blood cultures.
A total of 445 blood cultures containing Gram-positive cocci in clusters were tested for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus with the Accuprobe, heat-stable thermonuclease, and latex agglutination using Staphaurex. The results show that the Accuprobe, thermonuclease, and Staphaurex correctly identified 95, 96, and 62 of the 100 specimens containing S. aureus. The corresponding specificity for the methods was 99.1%, 100%, and 98.5%, respectively.
Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
M
M
Skulnick
A E
AE
Simor
M P
MP
Patel
H E
HE
Simpson
K J
KJ
O'Quinn
D E
DE
Low
A M
AM
Phillips
G W
GW
Small
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease