The First Rapid Blood Test for MRSA is in the Market
In recent years, the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection have been on the rise. This has especially become a problem in hospitals where MRSA infections have become synonymous to healthcare-associated infections.
S. aureus is a very common bacterial species that causes pimples and mild skin and wound infections. However, years of antibiotic use gave rise to strains which are resistant to the antibiotic methicillin as well as to other drugs. The MRSA strains can cause life-threatening conditions such as sepsis, infections of surgical sites, and pneumonia.
The US FDA has recently approved the first quick test to identify MRSA in the blood. Using molecular methods, the BD GeneOhm StaphSR Assay can detect genetic material from the common, less dangerous methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) as well as the drug-resistant deadly MRSA strains [1, 2]
Early detection of MRSA infections is crucial in their treatment and management. Using standard diagnostic laboratory tests, it takes 2 days to identify MRSA in blood samples. With the new rapid test, results are available within 2 hours. This is especially good news to the public health community which had to deal with the rapid rise in the incidence of MRSA infections in hospitals and clinics. Immunocompromised patients are especially susceptible.
The BD GeneOhm StaphSR test is manufactured by BD Diagnostics, a subsidiary of BD of Franklin Lakes, N.J.
[1] FDA News, 2 Jan 2008. FDA Clears First Quick Test For Drug-Resistant Staph Infections.
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