We describe a new, efficient, sensitive, and fast single-tube multiple-PCR protocol for the identification of the most clinically significant Staphylococcus spp. and the simultaneous detection of the methicillin and mupirocin resistance loci. The protocol identifies at the species level isolates belonging to S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. hominis, S. lugdunensis, and S. saprophy...

The isolation, identification of Staphylococcus aureus from bovine milk and its antibiotic susceptibility was studied. One milliliter of each freshly drawn milk sample was inoculated into 9 ml of sterile peptone water and incubated overnight. A loop full of peptone water broth was streaked on blood agar base enriched with sheep blood using the quadrant streaking method for each quarter. Blood a...

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans. It may be named multidrug-resistant S. aureus or Oxacillin-resistant S. aureus (ORSA). MRSA is a strain of S. aureus that developed resistance to β-Lactam antibiotics, including Penicillins, which include (Methicillin, Dicloxacillin, Nafcillin, Oxacillin, etc.) and ...

OBJECTIVES To determine whether the relative proportions of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S aureus (MSSA) were changing or stable in an outpatient dermatology clinic and to examine the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of S aureus isolates. DESIGN Retrospective observational data were collected from skin culture isolates annually between January...

Staphylococcus aureus colonies can spread on soft agar plates. We compared colony spreading of clinically isolated methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). All MSSA strains showed colony spreading, but most MRSA strains (73%) carrying SCCmec type-II showed little colony spreading. Deletion of the entire SCCmec type-II region from these MRSA strains rest...

An amperometric electrochemical immunoassay specific for protein A-bearing Staphylococcus aureus was developed. The method was based on a sandwich immunosorbent assay and incorporated an enzyme amplification step, using a NAD-specific redox cycle generating NADH (C. H. Stanley, A. Johannsson, and C. H. Self, J. Immunol. Methods 83:89-95, 1985). Reduction of the mediator, ferricyanide, was depen...

BACKGROUND Rapid detection of bloodstream infections (BSIs) can be lifesaving. We investigated the sample processing and assay parameters necessary for highly-sensitive detection of bloodstream bacteria, using Staphylococcus aureus as a model pathogen and an automated fluidic sample processing-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) platform as a model diagnostic system. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING...

Triclosan (2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether) is an antimicrobial agent used in hygiene products, plastics and kitchenware, and for treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreaks. S. aureus strains with low-level resistance to triclosan have emerged. It has been claimed that strains with decreased susceptibility to biocides may also be less susceptible to antibiot...

A 14-year-old patient presented with bilateral pneumonia and pleural effusions, septic arthritis of the hip, deep venous thrombosis, and pulmonary thromboembolism. Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) containing the Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) genes was isolated. Contraindication to anticoagulation prompted inferior vena cava filter placement. He completed 4 weeks of tr...

The E test (AB Biodisk NA Inc.) was compared with standard reference methods using the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards's recommendations for determining the MICs of four selected antibiotics against 208 clinical isolates of gram-positive bacteria. These bacteria included 32 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 25 strains of Enterococcus faecium, 20 strains of oxacillin-sens...