JCM Accepts, published online ahead of print on 28 October 2009

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J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.01411-09
Copyright (c) 2009, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Multiplex PCR-Ligation Detection Reaction assay for the simultaneous detection of drug resistance and toxin genes from Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium.

K. Granger, M. S. Rundell, M. R. Pingle, R. Shatsky, D. H. Larone, L. M. Golightly, F. Barany, and E. D. Spitzer^*

Department of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY; and Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: eric.spitzer{at}stonybrook.edu.

A multiplex PCR-Ligation Detection Reaction (PCR-LDR) assay was developed for rapid detection of methicillin, tetracycline, and vancomycin resistance, as well as toxic shock toxin and Panton-Valentine leukocidin. The assay was tested on 470 positive blood culture bottles containing Staphylococcus aureus or enterococci. PCR-LDR exhibited a sensitivity and specificity 98% for all components except tetracycline resistance which had a sensitivity of 94.7%. Rapid and sensitive detection of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes could help guide therapy and appropriate infection control measures.