Real-time fluorescence PCR for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Objective Using real-time fluorescence PCR for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and to assess it clinical value.Methods Real-time fluorescence PCR and isolation-culture-K-B paper disk diffusion method were performed to analyze 62 Staphylococcus aureus strains and 35 non-Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated clinically.Samples with different testing results by these two methods were further examined by sequencing method for final identification.Results Sixty-two Staphylococcus aureus were identified by culture method and real-time fluorescence PCR method.Of the 62 clinical isolated Staphylococcus aureus 41 isolates were defined as MRSA by K-B paper disk diffusion method,and 43 isolates were defined as MRSA by real-time fluorescence PCR.The two isolates defined as positive by real-time fluorescence PCR and negative by K-B paper disk diffusion method were proved to be MRSA positive by sequencing method.The sensitivity of PCR for detecting MRSA was 1×103 cfu/mL.Conclusions Real-time fluorescence PCR could be used clinically for the rapid detection of MRSA with high clinical value.