ABSTRACT
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] has emerged worldwide as a nosocomial pathogen of major importance, and the incidence of infections caused by MRSA continues to increase. Infections with MRSA are known to be associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. "Mortality was three times higher in patients with MRSA than those with MSSA infection in ICU. We aimed in this study to apply rapid and accurate detection method for identification of MRSA and prevent its spread in Tanta University Hospital. Our study was carried out on 110 different clinical specimens and we evaluate three different methods which are two phenotypic methods and one genotypic method for identification of MRSA .The genotypic method was Real time PCR for mec A gene and the phenotypic methods were oxacillin disc diffusion method using 1ug and 5ug OX and latex agglutination using PBP2a. Conventional PCR for 533bp mecA gene product was utilized as a golden standard test. Our study showed that disc diffusion method using OX1ug and 5ug yield 90.9% and 90.1 sensitivity and 94.1% and 76.5% specificity respectively while latex PBP2a and real time PCR yielded 100%sensitivity and 100% specificity. We recommendPBP2a latex agglutination test as a phenotypic method and Real time PCR as a genotypic method for rapid detection of MRSA. The use of these rapid assays should help to reduce the work load associated with MRSA surveillance programs and the spread of MRSA in clinical settings