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Species-specific identification of methicillin resistance in Staphylococci

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Abstract

The ability to identify methicillin-resistant staphylococci by the disc diffusion method was evaluated using discs containing oxacillin (1, 5 and 10 µg), methicillin (10 µg) and cephalexin (30 µg). Strains ofStaphylococcus aureus (67 strains) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (72 novobiocin-sensitive and 27 novobiocin-resistant strains) were studied using two inoculum densities (106 cfu/ml and 108 cfu/ml). Inhibitory zones were recorded after 18, 24 and 42 hours of incubation. AmecA-specific application of the polymerase chain reaction was used as a reference method. The inoculum of 108 cfu/ml and incubation for 24 hours were optimal for the identification of methicillin-resistant strains. However, one single disc was not sufficient for the identification of methicillin resistance in the different staphylococcal species. ThemecA-positive strains ofStaphylococcus aureus and novobiocin-resistant coagulase-negative species were clearly separated from themecA-negative strains when the 5 µg oxacillin disc was used, whereas the 1 µg oxacillin disc was optimal for the identification of themecA-positive novobiocin-sensitive coagulase-negative strains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Lund University Hospital, Sölvegatan 23, 223 62, Lund, Sweden

    A. C. Petersson & H. Miörner

  2. Armauer Hansen Research Institute, PO Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    H. Miörner

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  1. A. C. Petersson
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  2. H. Miörner
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Petersson, A.C., Miörner, H. Species-specific identification of methicillin resistance in Staphylococci. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 14, 206–211 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310357

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