Identification of mecA gene in MRSA by multiplex PCR

Methicillin-Resistant Strains of Staphylococci (MRSA) remains an important pathogen of hospital infection and the number of affected patients is rising. To limit the transmission of these organisms, early detection is crucial and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is considered to be a powerful tool for this purpose. A primary concern with PCR-based studies is whether amplified DNA may be derived from laboratory contaminants. On the contrary, negative results may be attributed to amplification errors. To overcome these problems, we developed a multiplex PCR assay using oligonucleotide primers to detect mecA and 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The results are accordant with conventional disk method or MIC method, suggesting multiplex PCR to be a useful measure for identification of MRSA.