Cepheid Xpert MRSA cycle threshold in discordant colonization results and as a quantitative measure of nasal colonization burden

Abstract

We analyzed the cycle threshold (CT) of PCR surveillance MRSA swabs obtained from veterans. Lower CT on admission was associated with a positive culture from nasal swabs at discharge. Compared to PCR, direct plating of nasal swabs performed poorly, especially for patients with an elevated CT. The CT is strongly correlated with quantitative nasal cultures. Clinical and infection control applications of the CT have yet to be defined and warrant further evaluation. Copyright © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.