GeneXpert captures unstable methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prone to rapidly losing the mecA gene.
A cefoxitin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strain was identified by the Cepheid GeneXpert as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). This strain was highly unstable and rapidly lost SCCmec upon subculturing in vitro, indicating that unstable MRSA is best detected by gene amplification-based methods.
Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland. diana.ciardo@viollier.ch
Diana E
DE
Ciardo
Sibylle
S
Burger
Michael
M
Payer
Christian
C
Lee
Nadine
N
McCallum
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002440:Cefoxitin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005260:Female; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D002440:Cefoxitin