title: MRSA screening by the Xpert MRSA PCR assay: pooling samples of the nose, throat, and groin increases the sensitivity of detection without increasing the laboratory costs.
abstract: The performance of the Xpert MRSA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay on pooled nose, groin, and throat swabs (three nylon flocked eSwabs into one tube) was compared to culture by analyzing 5,546 samples. The sensitivity [0.78, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.73-0.82] and specificity (0.99, 95 % CI 0.98-0.99) were similar to the results from published studies on separated nose or other specimens. Thus, the performance of the Xpert MRSA assay was not affected by pooling the three specimens into one assay, allowing a higher detection rate without increasing laboratory costs, as compared to nose samples alone.
authors.affiliation: Service of Hospital Preventive Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. Dominique.Blanc@chuv.ch
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Blanc
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nahimana
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greub
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006119:Groin / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology