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Updated: Apr 20, 2026
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus polymerase chain reaction: a potential use in guiding antibiotic
Jennifer A Johnson1, Michael E Wright2, Lyndsay A Sheperd3
1Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, TN. jennifer03johnson@yahoo.com.
Context:
The role at admission of nasal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in guiding antibiotic therapy for lower respiratory tract infection is unknown.
Objective:
To determine whether nasal MRSA PCR at admission can predict the absence of MRSA in lower respiratory tract secretions.
Design:
We performed a retrospective study of adult patients admitted to a large urban hospital. Patients had a nasal MRSA PCR test and a lower respiratory tract culture obtained within 48 hours of admission and the culture yielded S aureus.
Main Outcome Measures:
Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values.
Results:
Our results showed high sensitivity (93.3%) and negative predictive value (95.2%) of nasal PCR for MRSA in the lower respiratory tract.
Conclusion:
With its high sensitivity and negative predictive value, a nasal MRSA PCR test performed within 48 hours of hospital admission could help guide the discontinuation of MRSA-directed empiric antibiotic therapy in patients who are unlikely to be infected with this organism. A prospective study is needed to confirm these findings.
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