Detection of Meticillin-resistant Staphylococci Mediated by mecA Gene Using Cefoxitin Disk Diffusion Method

OBJECTIVE To evaluate application of cefoxitin disk diffusion method in detecting meticillin-resistant staphylococci(MRS)mediated by mecA gene.METHODS The cefoxitin disk diffusion method,oxacillin disk(diffusion) method,oxacillin agar dilution test,VITEK automicroscan as well as PCR amplification were performed and compared simultaneously for detection of MRS,and VITEK automicroscan was used in testing MIC.(RESULTS)(Among) 96 strains of Staphylococcus(16 S.aureus and 80 coagulase-negative staphylococci strains),54 strains of MRS(2 S.aureus and 52 coagulase-negative staphylococci strains) were identified by oxacillin disk(diffusion) method,oxacillin agar dilution test and VITEK automicroscan,48 mecA-genes were identified by PCR amplification(2 S.aureus and 46 coagulase-negative staphylococci strains) which was the same as by cefoxitin disk diffusion method.CONCLUSIONS The(cefoxitin) disk diffusion method is highly consistent with mecA gene method,and a reliable one of screening and(identifying) MRS mediated by mecA gene.