Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
New identification characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on chromogenic culture media
Sigi Van den Wijngaert1, Olivier Vandenberg, Robert Scheen
1Dpt of Microbiology, Sint Pieter University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. Sigi_Vandenwijngaert@stpierre-bru.be
Abstract:
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most common and important causes of nosocomial infections. Rapid detection of this pathogen is important for conducting good and swift infection control. This prospective study evaluates two chromogenic media for the detection of MRSA. New colony characteristics were noticed during this evaluation: (i) a yellow/golden colouration on a pipette after streaking the colonies of the chromogenic culture could eventually be used as a supplementary identification test to identify the MRSA strains, and (ii) some MRSA strains do not metabolise the chromogens and therefore are not coloured on chromogenic agars. However, they have a typical yellow/golden colony aspect usually observed amongst S. aureus.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Differential Staining Technique
Microbial Growth Media
Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria