title: Rapid detection and identification of bacterial pathogens using novel molecular technologies: infection control and beyond.
abstract: The rapid detection and reporting of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a challenge for the clinical microbiology laboratory. Molecular-based diagnostic tests can provide data on the presence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus in the nares in approximately 1 h, whereas testing for the vanA and vanB resistance genes in enterococci isolated from perirectal samples can be completed in approximately 4 h. Novel pyrosequencing assays can provide data regarding the presence of multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis directly from positive mycobacterial broth cultures in <1 day. These data can assist physicians in both therapeutic and infection control decisions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. fnt1@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Fred C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Tenover
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial