title: Comparison of an enrichment broth-enhanced commercial PCR procedure versus bacteriological culture for separating non-colonized from suspected or colonized MRSA individuals.
abstract: The aim of the study presented here was to evaluate an enrichment broth-enhanced commercial PCR procedure for excluding the presence of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in patient samples in less than 36 h. In The Netherlands to date, all MRSA epidemics have been successfully controlled with the Dutch search-and-destroy policy. However, PCR facilitates more rapid screening for MRSA than traditional culture. One commercial PCR option is the hyplex StaphyloResist(R) PCR assay (Biologische Analysensystem GmbH, Lich, Germany), which detects Staphylococcus aureus and the mecA gene in MRSA as well as in coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). This assay was used to test a total of 939 specimens obtained from 346 individuals. Following resolution of all discrepancies, the prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for all separate specimens were 9.0, 97.6, 83.7, 37.4 and 99.7%, respectively, and for specimens grouped according to daily episode submitted per individual, they were 7.5, 97.4, 77.2, 26.2 and 99.7%, respectively. These results led to the introduction of this PCR into the hospital laboratory's routine for the purpose outlined above.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Atrium Medical Centre Parkstad, P.O. Box 4446, 6401 CX, Heerlen, The Netherlands. medische.microbiologie@atriummc.nl
authors.forename: J H T
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wagenvoort
authors.forename: M F H A
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: van de Cruijs
authors.forename: C T M
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Meuwissen
authors.forename: J M H
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gronenschild
authors.forename: E I G B
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: De Brauwer
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*