title: Evaluation of the Mastalex latex agglutination test for methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus grown on different screening media.
abstract: The Mastalex MRSA latex agglutination method was evaluated with 52 methicillin-resistant and 27 methicillin-susceptible strains of Staphylococcus aureus grown on various media. All tests were correct with colonies grown on blood agar with or without oxacillin 2 mg/L. Tests on colonies grown on mannitol salt agar were less reliable, although addition of oxacillin 2 mg/L improved performance. One of the 26 MRSA which grew on Baird-Parker medium with 8 mg/L ciprofloxacin gave a false-negative result. Agglutination was faster when strains were grown on media with oxacillin. The method would be particularly useful for urgent confirmation of resistance.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QW, UK. dfjb@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Walpole
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D010068:Oxacillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010406:Penicillins; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D010068:Oxacillin