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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Multiplex PCR Assay for Typing of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Mec Types I to V in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: September 5, 2013
A novel multiplex real-time PCR assay for rapid typing of major staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec elements
Patrice Francois1, Gesuele Renzi, Didier Pittet
1Genomic Research Laboratory, University of Geneva Hospitals, CH-1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. patrice.francois@genomic.ch
Abstract:
We describe a novel procedure for rapid typing of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec element, a molecular marker allowing discrimination between community- and hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. Oligonucleotides targeting the recombinase genes were type specific and used to type a collection of 399 MRSA isolates recovered during patient screening at admission. This novel assay constitutes a valuable tool for evaluating the molecular epidemiology of MRSA and adjusting infection control strategies against MRSA.
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