Performance
Leading cause of nosocomial infections, especially in intensive care units, the MRSA sources are either endogenous (the patient) or through cross contamination (environmental or by person to person contact). The major issue with this pathogen is its resistance to a large panel of antibiotics, among them beta-lactam antibiotics, limiting the therapeutic options for clinicians.
Early detection is essential for controlling the spread of MRSA, providing appropriate care, and avoiding complex and expensive treatments. Pre-admission screening for MRSA has proved to be an effective method for reducing the hospital burden of MRSA-colonised patients. The savings due to consistent decolonisation before elective admission outweigh the costs of screening. Today, in the US, the extra-expenses linked to difficult treatments of MRSA infections are estimated at $2.4 billion for about 370,000 hospital stays. (Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News, August 2009).
In the UK, the estimation of the additional cost of discharging every hospital patient who acquires MRSA is £9,000.
Intended Use
CHROMagar™ MRSA is a selective and differential chromogenic medium for the qualitative direct detection of colonization by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to aid in the prevention and control of MRSA in healthcare settings. The test is performed on anterior nares or perineal swab specimens from patients and healthcare workers to screen for MRSA colonization. Results can be interpreted after 18-24 h of aerobic incubation at 35-37 °C.