title: Comparison of four methods for rapid identification of Staphylococcus aureus directly from BACTEC 9240 blood culture system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Differentiation of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) from coagulase-negative staphylococci is very important in blood stream infections. Identification of S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) from blood cultures takes generally 18-24 h after positive signaling on continuously monitored automated blood culture system. In this study, we evaluated the performance of tube coagulase test (TCT), slide agglutination test (Dry Spot Staphytect Plus), conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and LightCycler Staphylococcus MGrade kit directly from blood culture bottles to achieve rapid identification of S. aureus by using the BACTEC 9240 blood culture system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 129 BACTEC 9240 bottles growing gram-positive cocci suggesting Staphylococci were tested directly from blood culture broths (BCBs) with TCT, Dry Spot Staphytect Plus, conventional PCR and LightCycler Staphylococcus MGrade kit for rapid identification of S. aureus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivities of the tests were 99, 68, 99 and 100%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested that 2 h TCT was found to be simple and inexpensive method for the rapid identification of S. aureus directly from positive blood cultures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Akdeniz University Medical Faculty, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Ozen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ogunc
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ongut
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Baysan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gunseren
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D003030:Coagulase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003030:Coagulase