Guidelines for the laboratory diagnosis and susceptibility testing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

• Published in: Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy Vol. 56; no. 6; pp. 1000 - 1018
• Main Authors: Brown, Derek F. J., Edwards, David I., Hawkey, Peter M., Morrison, Donald, Ridgway, Geoffrey L., Towner, Kevin J., Wren, Michael W. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01-12-2005; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; GISA; Glycopeptides - pharmacology; Humans; Medical sciences; Methicillin Resistance; meticillin; Microbial Sensitivity Tests - methods; MRSA identification; MRSA molecular methods; MRSA screening; MRSA susceptibility testing; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Staphylococcal Infections - diagnosis; Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; United Kingdom; Drug susceptibility test; MRSA molecular methods; Identification; Laboratory; Meticillin; Penicillin derivatives; GISA; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Micrococcaceae; Diagnosis; Staphylococcus aureus; β-Lactams; Method; Medical screening; Recommendation; Infection; Screening; MRSA susceptibility testing; Antibiotic; MRSA screening; Bacteriosis; MRSA identification; Antibacterial agent; Staphylococcal infection
• ISSN: 0305-7453; 1460-2091
• DOI: 10.1093/jac/dki372

These evidence-based guidelines have been produced after a literature review of the laboratory diagnosis and susceptibility testing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We have considered the detection of MRSA in screening samples and the detection of reduced susceptibility to glycopeptides in S. aureus. Recommendations are given for the identification of S. aureus and for suitable methods of susceptibility testing and screening for MRSA and for S. aureus with reduced susceptibility to glycopeptides. These guidelines indicate what tests should be used but not when the tests are applicable, as aspects of this are dealt with in guidelines on control of MRSA. There are currently several developments in screening media and molecular methods. It is likely that some of our recommendations will require modification as the new methods become available.