title: A simplified multiplex PCR assay for fast and easy discrimination of globally distributed staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec types in meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: A multiplex PCR assay was developed for the identification of major types and subtypes of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) in meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. The method uses a novel 9 valent multiplex PCR plus two primer pairs for S. aureus identification and detection of meticillin resistance. All 389 clinical MRSA isolates from Malaysia and 18 European isolates from the Harmony collection harbouring different SCCmec types that we tested were correctly characterized by our PCR assay. SCCmec type III and V were by far the most common types among both hospital- and community-acquired Malaysian MRSA isolates, with an apparent emergence of MRSA harbouring the IVh type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ehsanollah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghaznavi-Rad
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nor Shamsudin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zamberi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sekawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC, 's Gravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Belkum
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Vasanthakumari
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Neela
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial