Cluster analysis on multiple drugs susceptibility supplements genotyping of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the typing power of cluster analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility.


METHODS
Results of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in 71 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were compared with cluster analysis of the diameter of growth inhibition in 11 drugs. Subjects were a consecutive series of patients (n = 71) from the wards and outpatient units of a community teaching hospital.


RESULTS
The cluster analysis took 2 to 3 seconds once the data were entered into a computer. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the cluster analysis were 76.3%, 58.3%, and 73.2%, respectively, using genotyping as the reference.


CONCLUSIONS
The cluster analysis offered real-time epidemiologic data at minimal cost and labor, warranting its cost-effective role.
Yoshida
J
J
Infection Control Commitee, Shimonoseki City Hospital, Shimonoseki, Japan.
Umeda
A
A
Ishimaru
T
T
Akao
M
M
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*