Staphylococcus Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Staphylococcus, including details on mrsa, hospitals, infection, antibiotic resistance, superbugs.

Loss of the mecA gene during storage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains.

van Griethuysen A, van Loo I, van Belkum A, Vandenbroucke-Grauls C, Wannet W, van Keulen P, Kluytmans J

Department of Medical Microbiology and Medical Immunology, Internal Post Number 1630, Hospital Rijnstate Arnhem, P.O. Box 9025, 6800 EG Arnhem, The Netherlands. AvanGriethuysen@alysis.nl

The mecA gene was lost in 36 (14.4%) of 250 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates after 2 years of storage at -80 degrees C with the Microbank system (Pro-lab Diagnostics, Austin, Tex.). Further analysis of 35 of these isolates confirmed loss of the mecA gene in 32 isolates. This finding has important implications for the management of strain collections.

Published 7 March 2005 in J Clin Microbiol, 43(3): 1361-5.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Staphylococcus Research Today. All Rights Reserved.