Rapid detection of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin resistance in bone and joint infection samples: evaluation of the GeneXpert MRSA/SA SSTI assay

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2014 Mar;78(3):313-5. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.11.026. Epub 2013 Dec 6.

Abstract

The GeneXpert MRSA/SA SSTI assay was compared to conventional cultures to detect Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistance from 91 bone and joint infection samples. Sensitivity and specificity were 94.4% and 100%. Three false-positive results were observed, in fact providing from patients known to be infected by S. aureus on the basis of other concomitant osteoarticular samples, which suggests that PCR was more sensitive than culture. This diagnosis accuracy may help shorten toxic and non-optimal empirical therapies such as glycopeptides in case of methicillin-susceptible strains.

Keywords: Bone and joint infection; GeneXpert MRSA/SA SSTI assay; Methicillin-resistance; Real time polymerase chain reaction; Staphylococcus aureus.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis, Infectious / diagnosis*
  • Arthritis, Infectious / microbiology
  • Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
  • Bone Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Bone Diseases / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / diagnosis*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*