title: A novel multiplex real-time PCR assay for rapid typing of major staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec elements.
abstract: We describe a novel procedure for rapid typing of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec element, a molecular marker allowing discrimination between community- and hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. Oligonucleotides targeting the recombinase genes were type specific and used to type a collection of 399 MRSA isolates recovered during patient screening at admission. This novel assay constitutes a valuable tool for evaluating the molecular epidemiology of MRSA and adjusting infection control strategies against MRSA.
authors.affiliation: Genomic Research Laboratory, University of Geneva Hospitals, CH-1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. patrice.francois@genomic.ch
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Francois
authors.forename: Gesuele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Renzi
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pittet
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bento
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harbarth
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaudaux
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schrenzel
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus