J Lab Med Qual Assur.  2007 Dec;29(2):247-252.

Comparison of Various Methods for Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

• Lee K
• Heo SR
• Choi SH
• Song SH
• Park KU
• Song J
• Kim EC

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cefoxitin, a cephamycin-type antibiotic, is known to be superior to oxacillin in predicting the presence of mecA gene because it serves as a very potent inducer of mecA regulatory system. We used a cefoxitin disk diffusion methods for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and compared it with the conventional methods.
METHODS
For 50 MRSA and 50 methicillin susceptible S. aureus confirmed by mecA and femA gene PCR, oxacillin, cefoxitin, and moxalactam disk diffusion methods, oxacillin and cefoxitin E-tests, Vitek 2 and Microscan Walkaway antibiotics susceptibility tests, and PBP2a latex agglutination test were performed. The sensitivity and specificity of each method were evaluated.
RESULTS
The sensitivities of oxacillin disk diffusion method and E-test were 96%. The sensitivities of cefoxitin and moxalactam disk diffusion method, cefoxitin E-test, Vitek 2, Microscan Walkaway, PBP2a latex agglutination test were 100%. The specificities were 100% for all the methods used.
CONCLUSIONS
It may be considered that both the cefoxitin- and moxalactam disk diffusion methods are effective and excellent screening methods for the detection of MRSA in clinical laboratory routinely.

Keyword

MRSA; Cefoxitin; Moxalactam; Oxacillin; Disk diffusion methods

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Cefoxitin
Diffusion
Latex Fixation Tests
Mass Screening
Methicillin
Methicillin Resistance*
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*
Moxalactam
Oxacillin
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sensitivity and Specificity
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Cefoxitin
Methicillin
Moxalactam
Oxacillin