Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus expressing low-level methicillin resistance may not be detected by the VITEK2® system

Malik Al Nakib; Hélène Réglier-Poupet; Magalie Longo; Jean-Marie Adam; Josette Raymond; Gilles Zambardi; Asmaa Tazi; Claire Poyart

doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2011.10.004

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus expressing low-level methicillin resistance may not be detected by the VITEK2® system

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2012 Feb;72(2):193-5. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2011.10.004. Epub 2011 Nov 21.

Authors

Malik Al Nakib¹, Hélène Réglier-Poupet, Magalie Longo, Jean-Marie Adam, Josette Raymond, Gilles Zambardi, Asmaa Tazi, Claire Poyart

Affiliation

¹ Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France.

PMID: 22104183
DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2011.10.004

Abstract

Low-level methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus may be difficult to detect with the VITEK® 2 system (VK2). Here, we suggest that S. aureus exhibiting VK2-oxacillin MIC of 1 or 2 mg/L and a negative cefoxitin screen should be tested for the presence of mecA or its gene product.

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
Bacterial Proteins / genetics
Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology
Methicillin / pharmacology*
Methicillin Resistance / physiology*
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Penicillin-Binding Proteins
Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bacterial Proteins
Penicillin-Binding Proteins
mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus
Methicillin