A rapid (20 h) solid screening medium for detecting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

J Hosp Infect. 1998 Sep;40(1):67-72. doi: 10.1016/s0195-6701(98)90027-5.

Abstract

Methicillin aztreonam mannitol salt agar is a sensitive and reliable solid screening medium for detecting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). With this medium an incubation period of only 20 h is sufficient to either produce visible colonies of MRSA or to exclude MRSA (no staphylococcal colonies). Coagulase testing (requiring a further 6 h) enables coagulase-positive isolates to be provisionally reported as 'possible MRSA' 26-30 h after the swabs were collected. The medium supports growth of intrinsically resistant staphylococci including low-expression-class MRSA (methicillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 8-16 mg/L), but methicillin susceptible staphylococci and beta-lactamase hyperproducers are suppressed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carrier State / diagnosis*
  • Carrier State / microbiology
  • Culture Media*
  • Humans
  • Methicillin / pharmacology
  • Methicillin Resistance*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / prevention & control*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development*

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Methicillin