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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 2007, p. 2486-2490, Vol. 45, No. 8
0095-1137/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.00139-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Detection: Comparison of Two Molecular Methods (IDI-MRSA PCR Assay and GenoType MRSA Direct PCR Assay) with Three Selective MRSA Agars (MRSA ID, MRSASelect, and CHROMagar MRSA) for Use with Infection-Control Swabs{triangledown}

S. J. van Hal,* D. Stark, B. Lockwood, D. Marriott, and J. Harkness

Department of Microbiology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst 2010 NSW, Australia

Received 19 January 2007/ Returned for modification 15 March 2007/ Accepted 17 May 2007

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an increasing problem. Rapid detection of MRSA-colonized patients has the potential to limit spread of the organism. We evaluated the sensitivities and specificities of MRSA detection by two molecular methods (IDI-MRSA PCR assay and GenoType MRSA Direct PCR assay) and three selective MRSA agars (MRSA ID, MRSASelect, and CHROMagar MRSA), using 205 (101 nasal, 52 groin, and 52 axillary samples) samples from consecutive known MRSA-infected and/or -colonized patients. All detection methods had higher MRSA detection rates for nasal swabs than for axillary and groin swabs. Detection of MRSA by IDI-MRSA was the most sensitive method, independent of the site (94% for nasal samples, 80% for nonnasal samples, and 90% overall). The sensitivities of the GenoType MRSA Direct assay and the MRSA ID, MRSASelect, and CHROMagar MRSA agars with nasal swabs were 70%, 72%, 68%, and 75%, respectively. All detection methods had high specificities (95 to 99%), independent of the swab site. Extended incubation for a further 24 h with selective MRSA agars increased the detection of MRSA, with a corresponding decline in specificity secondary to a significant increase in false-positive results. There was a noticeable difference in test performance of the GenoType MRSA Direct assay in detection of MRSA (28/38 samples [74%]) compared with detection of nonmultiresistant MRSA (17/31 samples [55%]) (susceptible to two or more non-ß-lactam antibiotics). This was not observed with selective MRSA agar plates or IDI-MRSA. Although it is more expensive, in addition to rapid turnaround times of 2 to 4 h, IDI-MRSA offers greater detection of MRSA colonization, independent of the swab site, than do conventional selective agars and GenoType MRSA Direct.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst 2010 NSW, Australia. Phone: 61 2 8382 9196. Fax: 61 2 8382 2989. E-mail: vanhal{at}gotalk.net.au

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 30 May 2007.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 2007, p. 2486-2490, Vol. 45, No. 8
0095-1137/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.00139-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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