Author: Nasiru ABDULLAHI, Kenneth C. IREGBU

Manuscript ID: AFMJ-Nov-2025-24 Date Published: 2025-11-11 15:14:49

Background:

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a multidrug resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus that is recognized globally as a pathogen of serious public health significance, causing many difficult-to-treat life-threatening infections in the healthcare and community settings. Rapid and accurate detection of this organism is crucial in prompt treatment of its infections and control of its spread. This study was, therefore, conducted to compare the accuracy of cefoxitin disc diffusion method of detecting MRSA in this environment with the gold standard, polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Methods:

This retrospective study involved the recovery of three hundred and sixty (360) non-duplicate isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from different clinical samples following standard microbiological identification method, and subjecting them to methicillin resistance testing using cefoxitin-based disc diffusion, in accordance to modified Kirby-Bauer method and Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Ninety-seven (97) of the phenotypically detected isolates of MRSA via cefoxitin disc diffusion had their DNA extracted for Real Time PCR amplification and detection of mecA gene, the gold standard for MRSA detection.

Results:

All the 97 Staphylococcus aureus isolates that were resistant to cefoxitin disc (phenotypically detected MRSA) were found to possess MecA gene by PCR, giving a 100% accuracy of cefoxitin based detection method.

Conclusion:

Cefoxitin is a suitable and reliable alternative that can be used in place of the gold standard, PCR, for detection of MRSA strain carrying the mecA gene. This option may be valuable in resource-limited settings where high costs and expertise make PCR inaccessible.

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