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Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and simultaneous confirmation by automated nucleic acid extraction and real-time PCR.

ABSTRACT: A molecular assay for the simultaneous detection of a Staphylococcus aureus-specific gene and the mecA gene, responsible for the resistance to methicillin in staphylococci, was evaluated. The assay included an automated DNA extraction protocol conducted with a MagNA Pure instrument and real-time PCR conducted with a LightCycler instrument. The performance and robustness of the assay were evaluated for a suspension of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain with a turbidity equivalent to a McFarland standard of 0.5, which was found to be the ideal working concentration. The specificity of the new molecular assay was tested with a panel of 30 gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial strains other than MRSA. No cross-reactivity was observed. In a clinical study, 109 isolates of MRSA were investigated. All clinical MRSA isolates gave positive results for the S. aureus-specific genomic target, and all but one were positive for the mecA gene. In conclusion, the new molecular assay was found to be quick, robust, and laborsaving, and it proved to be suitable for a routine molecular diagnostic laboratory.

SUBMITTER: Grisold AJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC120553 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and simultaneous confirmation by automated nucleic acid extraction and real-time PCR.

Grisold Andrea J AJ Leitner Eva E Mühlbauer Gerhard G Marth Egon E Kessler Harald H HH

Journal of clinical microbiology 20020701 7

A molecular assay for the simultaneous detection of a Staphylococcus aureus-specific gene and the mecA gene, responsible for the resistance to methicillin in staphylococci, was evaluated. The assay included an automated DNA extraction protocol conducted with a MagNA Pure instrument and real-time PCR conducted with a LightCycler instrument. The performance and robustness of the assay were evaluated for a suspension of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain with a turbidity equivalent to a ...[more]

PMID: 12089253

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Project description:BACKGROUND: The speed and sensitivity of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have made it a popular method for the detection of microbiological agents in both research and clinical specimens. For the detection and genotyping of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in clinical specimens, real-time PCR has proven to be faster, more sensitive and safer than earlier methods which included isolation of the virus in cell culture followed by immunofluorescence microscopy. While PCR-based assays for HSV detection posses clear advantages over these earlier techniques, certain aspects of the PCR method remain onerous. The process of extraction and purification of nucleic acid from clinical specimens prior to PCR is particularly cumbersome. Nucleic acid extraction is expensive, time-consuming and provides a step whereby specimens can become contaminated prior to their analysis. Herein, we investigate the necessity of nucleic acid extraction from swab-based clinical specimens for HSV detection by real-time PCR. We find that nucleic acid extraction is unnecessary for specific and sensitive detection of HSV in clinical specimens using real-time PCR. METHODS: Prospective (n = 36) and retrospective (n = 21) clinical specimens from various anatomical sites were analyzed for the presence of herpes simplex virus 1 or 2 by real-time PCR using the RealArt HSV 1/2 LC PCR Kit. Specimens were analyzed by PCR both before and following automated nucleic acid extraction. PCR using extracted and unextracted specimens was also compared to cell culture as a means of detecting HSV. RESULTS: Detection of HSV 1/2 DNA in clinical specimens by real-time PCR did not require that the specimen be subjected to nucleic acid extraction/purification prior to analysis. Each specimen that was detectable by real-time PCR when analyzed in the extracted form was also detectable when analyzed in the unextracted form using the methods herein. The limit of detection of HSV-1 and HSV-2 particles when analyzed in the unextracted form was found to be approximately 17 and 32 virus particles respectively, compared to a sensitivity of 10 copies, for analysis of purified DNA. Omission of the nucleic acid extraction step shortened both the assay time and cost. CONCLUSION: Omission of the nucleic acid extraction step prior to real-time PCR for detection of herpes simplex virus resulted in a more rapid and cost-effective assay, with little impact upon the sensitivity of detection.

Dataset Information

Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and simultaneous confirmation by automated nucleic acid extraction and real-time PCR.

Publications

Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and simultaneous confirmation by automated nucleic acid extraction and real-time PCR.

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