ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of Cefoxitin with that of Methicillin/Oxacillin in the determination of mecA gene in Methicillin resistant Coagulase-negative staphylococci [CoNS]. We assessed 57 CoNS isolates for mecA gene via PCR, which were subsequently subjected to Methicillin/Oxacillin and Cefoxitin disc diffusion test. These methods are simple, inexpensive and easily available compared to PCR despite less specificity. Out of 41 mecA positive species, 33 [80.5%] were resistant to Methicillin/Oxacillin. Cefoxitin-resistance was seen in all 41 [100%] mecA positive samples. Two [12.5%] mecA negative isolates of S.saprophyticus were Methicillin/Oxacillin resistant, but were Cefoxitin sensitive. Four [9.7%] isolates of S.saprophyticus, three [7.3%] of S.epidermidis species, and one [2.4%] S.haemolyticus that were mecA positive were sensitive to Methicillin/Oxacillin but resistant to Cefoxitin. Cefoxitin resistance provides a more accurate picture of mecA gene positivity as compared to Methicillin and Oxacillin