Direct detection of Staphylococcus aureus using rapid cycle real time polymerase chain reaction and its effect on patient isolation stays and antibiotic usage in a community hospital

The purpose of the study was to test a rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for MRSA on a variety of body sites and investigate effects of providing rapid results on infection control practices and antibiotic usage in the hospital environment.; Samples from multiple body sites from 201 patients suspected of MRSA colonization were analyzed by both rapid PCR and conventional MRSA culture. PCR results and MRSA culture results were compared and the PCR test was then used to test patients in the 75 sample study group. Test turnaround time, patient age, gender, antibiotic usage, days in isolation, and diagnoses were collected on 75 patients included in the control group before PCR was initiated and 75 patients included in the study group after PCR was initiated.; Results showed that real time PCR methodology is suitable for a variety of specimen types and has sensitivity equivalent to MRSA culture. Turnaround times were significantly lower for PCR (m = 18.15, sd = 2.03) than for Culture (m = 45.30, sd = 2.05) hours. The number of days in isolation was lower for the study group (m = 3.34, sd = 2.79 days) than for the control group (m = 4.36, sd = 2.68). The PCR group (m = 2.35, sd = 1.65) required fewer vancomycin doses than the control group (m = 3.58, sd = 1.88). A repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine if changes were occurring in the number of nosocomial MRSA isolates. The results were found to be statistically significant, indicating a decrease in the number of isolates from 2004 and 2005 to 2006.