Clinical Impact of a PCR Assay for Identification of Staphylococcus aureus and Determination of Methicillin Resistance Directly from Blood Cultures

摘要

We evaluated the clinical usefulness of a PCR assay that discriminates Staphylococcus aureus from coagulase-negative staphylococci and detects methicillin resistance on blood cultures by measuring the adaptation of antimicrobial therapy based on the PCR results. Only 7 of 28 patients (25%) benefited from a modification of antibiotic therapy based on the PCR results, since empirical therapy was appropriate in a majority of cases.