Multicenter Evaluation of the LightCycler Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Advanced Test as a Rapid Method for Detection of MRSA in Nasal Surveillance Swabs

Abstract

The rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection continues to rise in many health care settings. Rapid detection of MRSA colonization followed by appropriate isolation can reduce transmission and infection. We compared the performance of the new Roche LightCycler MRSA advanced test to that of the BD GeneOhm MRSA test and culture. Double-headed swabs were used to collect anterior nasal specimens from each subject.

Detection and simultaneous confirmation of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus by an automated Real-Time PCR method with strain differentiation by analysis of DNA melting curve characteristics

“…From this study, it was calculated that the average personnel hands-on time per sample for the PCR method was 1.65 minutes. Similar findings have been published by Peterson et al [14]. While average handsone time figures as low as 1.2 minutes per sample have been previously reported for a chromogenic culture method [17], the significant difference between culture and PCR is the time to result for each method.…”

“…In 2008, Roche Molecular Systems (Switzerland) introduced the LightCycler (LC) MRSA Advanced Test, an in vitro diagnostic PCR method for the rapid detection of MRSA colonisation to aid in the prevention and management of MRSA infections in healthcare settings. The test targets the integration site of the SCCmec cassette into the S. aureus chromosome with melting point analysis of the PCR product [14,15]. The assay relies on three major processes: preparation of the specimen by mechanical lysis of the bacterial cell wall; detection of PCR amplified target DNA by specific hybridisation probes; and melting peak analysis and automated result generation.…”

Duration of Contact Precautions for Acute-Care Settings

“…If positive, the specimen is assigned positive screen status. [99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114] This methodology (called "partial verification") introduces bias in favor of PCR. 115 For MRSA, Yam et al 99 tested 1,246 nares swab specimens with the Lightcycler MRSA Advanced (Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Basel Switzerland), a laboratory developed test (LDT) PCR and, in parallel, cultured all specimens.…”

Isolation of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using a flocked swab elution transport system; with identification by PCR

“…Real-time PCR detection of MRSA has been shown to significantly reduce time to detection (under two hours of laboratory time) compared with standard culture tests [8,10,11]. This improves the efficiency of control and management strategies, leading to a significant reduction in MRSA transmission [8,10,11].…”

“…In 2008, recommendations from published guidelines of several governmental, professional, and public health organisations were summarised to help institutions prioritise and implement their MRSA transmission prevention efforts [7]. Factors that determine the success of a MRSA prevention program include: the patient population tested [8]; the efficiency of a collection systems to maintain viability and recovery of organisms [19]; the sensitivity and speed of laboratory testing [9]; and the speed of result determination [8][9][10].…”