Background: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have become a global health problem particularly in hospital setup causing simple skin infections to life-threatening infections. In many developing countries, including India, the situation appears gloomy due to inadequate or poor implementation of policy on infection control, lack of political will, inadequate resources including shortage of skilled manpower, poor motivation of health care workers and researchers.
Objective: The present study describes a rapid and accurate PCR for detection of clinically relevant antibiotic resistance gene of Staphylococcus aureus.
Materials and Methods: A total of 586 Staphylococcus positive clinical samples were collected under aseptic precautions from patients attending various departments in a tertiary care hospital in south India. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were identified based on cultural characteristics, biochemical reactions and positive tube coagulase test. Methicillin resistance was determined by Kirby-Bauers disc diffusion method. The PCR was used for mecA gene detection from MRSA strains.
Results: Of the total 586 Staphylococcal aureus isolated, 236 (40.2%) strains were MRSA. Thirty-five MSRA strains were randomly selected for PCR assay. Thirty three MRSA strains (94%) were mecA gene positive and two MRSA strains were mecA negative visualised on 2% agarose gel electrophoresis.
Conclusion: The PCR assay was found to be rapid and accurate procedure for the detection of MRSA strains as compared to the conventional methods since the reporting time is less and can help efficiently in infection management.
Key words: MRSA, PCR, mecA genes, Staphylococcal aureus
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