title: Comparative analysis of phenotypic and genotypic detection of methicillin resistance among Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen causing a wide range of infections ranging from mild skin and soft tissue infections to severe, life-threatening infections. Accuracy in the detection of methicillin resistance is important to avoid treatment failures. The aim of this study was to compare the results of phenotypic and genotypic test methods to detect methicillin resistance and also to determine the antimicrobial susceptibilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and forty-two S. aureus strains isolated from skin and soft tissue samples were analyzed for methicillin resistance using oxacillin and cefoxitin disk diffusion (DD), oxacillin screen agar test, cefoxitin E-test, and mecA gene polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  77 of 242 S. aureus isolates were mecA positive. Oxacillin, cefoxitin DD, oxacillin screen agar test and cefoxitin E-test exhibited sensitivities as 98.7%, 98.7%, 100%, 100%, and specificities as 96.9%, 97.5%, 96.9%, 97.5%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of oxacillin screen agar and cefoxitin DD test were in concordance with mecA gene PCR. Thus, it is determined that especially cefoxitin test can be an alternative to PCR in routine.
authors: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Ahi Evran University Research and Training Hospital, Kirsehir; Department of Communicable Diseases Control Programs, Public Health Institution, National Microbiology Reference Laboratories, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Tulin
authors: T
authors: Demir
authors: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Ministry of Health, Dıskapı Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Nilay
authors: N
authors: Coplu
authors: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Ankara Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Berrin
authors: B
authors: Esen
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002440:Cefoxitin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010068:Oxacillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002440:Cefoxitin; D010068:Oxacillin