Comparison of two versions of the IDI-MRSA assay using charcoal swabs for prospective nasal and nonnasal surveillance samples

Sean X Zhang; Steven J Drews; Joanne Tomassi; Kevin C Katz

doi:10.1128/JCM.00469-07

Comparison of two versions of the IDI-MRSA assay using charcoal swabs for prospective nasal and nonnasal surveillance samples

J Clin Microbiol. 2007 Jul;45(7):2278-80. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00469-07. Epub 2007 May 23.

Authors

Sean X Zhang¹, Steven J Drews, Joanne Tomassi, Kevin C Katz

Affiliation

¹ Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Canada.

Abstract

An updated IDI-MRSA assay version was released to address the assay's low positive predictive value (PPV). A prospective analysis of two assay versions indicated no significant improvement in the PPV. Colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 24% of patients would not have been detected if only nasal samples had been tested, as approved, by this molecular method.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Bacterial Typing Techniques*
Carrier State / microbiology
Charcoal
Humans
Methicillin Resistance*
Nose / microbiology*
Population Surveillance
Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
Rectum / microbiology
Sensitivity and Specificity
Specimen Handling
Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*

Substances

Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
Charcoal