Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: May | Volume: 6 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 378-383
Rapid and Economical Bench Detection of Methicillin Resistance in Staphylococcus Aureus in a Resource Poor Setting
Yousuf ul Bashir1, Peer Maroof1, Nargis Bali2, Reyaz Nasir1, Shoiab Khan1
1Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College and Associated Hospitals Srinagar, Kashmir, India
2Department of Microbiology, Shere-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, India
Corresponding Author: Yousuf ul Bashir
ABSTRACT
Background: With the first reports of methicillin resistance in early 1960’s shortly after its introduction, MRSA has been emerging as nosocomial and community pathogen worldwide. In developing world like ours there are many challenges for finding highly sensitive and economical test for detection of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. The aim of the present study was to compare different phenotypic methods with PCR based method as a gold standard for detection of mecA gene.
Methodology: A total of 400 S. aureus isolates which were isolated from different clinical samples at a teritiary care hospital in Kashmir. Methicillin resistance was determined by oxacillin screening agar, cefoxitin disc diffusion, chromagar, latex agglutination test. The results were compared with mecA based PCR method as a gold standard.
Results: Among 400 isolates of S. aureus, 179 (43.5%) were positive for mecA gene by PCR method. Cefoxitin disc diffusion method and latex agglutination test were the most sensitive with 98. 8% and 100% sensitivity respectively.
Conclusion: Latex agglutination test and cefoxitin disc diffusion method with very high sensitivity and specificity can be used as an alternative for MRSA detection in resource poor settings.
Key words: MRSA, mecA, Cefoxitin disc diffusion, Latex agglutination, PCR
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