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.

Evaluation of real-time polymerase chain reaction for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on environmental surfaces.

Otter JA, Havill NL, Boyce JM

Bioquell (UK) Ltd., Hampshire, UK. jon.otter@bioquell.com

We compared real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with in vitro culture for detecting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in samples from environmental surfaces. The sensitivity of RT-PCR, compared with culture, was 92.5%, and the specificity was 51.4%. Because of poor specificity, the RT-PCR kit tested is not suitable for the detection of MRSA on hospital surfaces.

Published 10 July 2007 in Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 28(8): 1003-5.
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