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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 1998, p. 1032-1034, Vol. 36, No. 4
0095-1137/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of Four Methods for Rapid Identification of Staphylococcus aureus from Blood Cultures

David J. Speers,* Thomas R. Olma, and Gwendolyn L. Gilbert

Center for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia

Received 1 October 1997/Returned for modification 12 November 1997/Accepted 5 December 1997

The identification of Staphylococcus aureus directly from blood cultures is clinically relevant, but it requires a test that is both rapid and reliable. Previously, biochemical, immunological, tube coagulase, and thermostable-endonuclease methods have shown variable sensitivity and specificity. Testing directly from blood culture broth has not been described for the latex kit Staphaurex Plus (Murex Diagnostics Ltd.), and the modified conventional tests have not been used with the newer, continuously monitored blood culture systems. In addition, the commercial RAPIDEC staph kit (bioMerieux Vitek, Inc.) has been used to detect S. aureus directly from the Vital blood culture system (bioMerieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France), but its performance has not been evaluated with other continuously monitored systems. A total of 201 clinical blood cultures (BACTEC 9240 culture system; Johnston Laboratories, Inc.) in which a Gram stain showed gram-positive cocci resembling staphylococci were evaluated prospectively. The Staphaurex Plus kit, the tube coagulase test, the thermostable-endonuclease test, and the RAPIDEC staph kit were compared. The sensitivities were 23, 92, 85, and 98% and the specificities were 99, 100, 93, and 100%, respectively. The RAPIDEC staph kit was the most reliable test, with a diagnostic accuracy comparable to that of the best published results for any of the rapid tests. However, it was the most expensive of the tests and relatively labor-intensive. The tube coagulase test was also sensitive, the simplest to perform, and inexpensive.

* Corresponding author. Phone: (61) 2 9845 6238. Fax: (61) 2 9893 8659. E-mail: lyng{at}cidm.wh.su.edu.au.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 1998, p. 1032-1034, Vol. 36, No. 4
0095-1137/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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