title: Multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of nine clinically relevant antibiotic resistance genes in Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: In this study we describe a multiplex PCR assay for the detection of nine clinically relevant antibiotic resistance genes of Staphylococcus aureus. Conditions were optimized to amplify fragments of mecA (encoding methicillin resistance), aacA-aphD (aminoglycoside resistance), tetK, tetM (tetracycline resistance), erm(A), erm(C) (macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance), vat(A), vat(B), and vat(C) (streptogramin A resistance) simultaneously in one PCR amplification. An additional primer pair for the amplification of a fragment of the staphylococcal 16S rDNA was included as a positive control. The multiplex PCR assay was evaluated on 30 different S. aureus isolates, and the PCR results correlated with the phenotypic antibiotic resistance data obtained by the broth microdilution assay. The multiplex PCR assay offers a rapid, simple, and accurate identification of antibiotic resistance profiles and could be used in clinical diagnosis as well as for the surveillance of the spread of antibiotic resistance determinants in epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode Branch, D-38855 Wernigerode, Germany.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strommenger
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kettlitz
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Witte
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial