title: Quantification by real-time PCR assay of Staphylococcus aureus load: a useful tool for rapidly identifying persistent nasal carriers.
abstract: The Cepheid Xpert MRSA/SA nasal PCR assay was compared to culture for quantifying Staphylococcus aureus load from 104 nasal samples (r = 0.91, P < 0.0001). Using a bacterial load-based algorithm, the test was found able to predict the carrier state in 32 of 35 healthy volunteers (22 persistent and 13 nonpersistent carriers).
authors.affiliation: GIMAP EA 3064 (Groupe Immunité des Muqueuses et Agents Pathogènes), University of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Paul O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Verhoeven
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grattard
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carricajo
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lucht
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cazorla
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Garraud
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pozzetto
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berthelot
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000379:methods*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*