Optimal use of MRSASelect and PCR to maximize sensitivity and specificity of MRSA detection.
Suspected colonies of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on chromogenic, MRSASelect (BioRad) medium were confirmed using routine microbiological methods, and a multiplex real-time PCR (n = 108). Although the specificity of MRSASelect assessed at 24 h of incubation was much higher than that of 48 h (91.4 vs. 60 %), extending the incubation time to 48 h, along with PCR confirmation, increased the total number of true positive samples by 27.8 %. These results provide a cost effective method for sensitive and specific detection of MRSA.
Division of Microbiology, Virology and Infection Control, Department of Pathology, Children's and Women's Health Centre of BC, Vancouver, Canada. rubayet.hasan@cw.bc.ca
Mohammad R
MR
Hasan
John D
JD
Brunstein
Ghada
G
Al-Rawahi
Rusung
R
Tan
Eva
E
Thomas
Peter
P
Tilley
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*