Cefoxitin mannitol salt agar for selective isolation of methicilin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major nosocomial infection that causes problems in screening testing. Cefoxitin is potent selective antibiotic agent widely recommended for the detection of MRSA. The aim is to evaluate the optimum concentration of cefoxitin incorporated into mannitol salt agar (MSA) needed to select and detect MRSA. A total of 99 MRSA isolates were tested against 4 different concentrations of cefoxitin mannitol salt agar (MSC) of: 2 μg/ml (MSC-2), 4 μg/ml (MSC-4), 6 μg/ml (MSC-6) and 8 μg/ml (MSC-8). The susceptibility of MSCs were respectively as follows: 53.5%, 53.5%, 74% and 78%. Accurate and effective laboratory screening of MRSA is an important measure control of MRSA.