EnglishMRSA
MRSA is a group of strains of Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics; such as penicillin, methicillin, dicloxacillin, nafcillin, oxacillin, etc. and the cephalosporins, making it difficult to treat. Community-acquired cases tend to be skin infections that can appear as pustules or boils. Healthcare-acquired infections can be due to surgical site infections or caused by pneumonia or sepsis. It is estimated in some countries like the US that 25-30% of the population may be colonized with S. aureus while less than 2% have MRSA.
MRSA is problematic in healthcare facilities where patients with open wounds, invasive devices and weakened immune systems are at greater risk of infection than the general public.
Alere has rapid tests for the presumptive identification of Staphylococcus aureus & PBP2a, a common marker for MRSA, direct from blood culture. Also Alere has a simple, accurate, rapid test for the identification of PBP2a in S. aureus culture isolates.