MRSA, Staph, Staff, Mersa, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Symptoms & Treatment

Rapid testing study under way in UK

Link: HighWire Press -- Medline Abstract.

The study is a prospective two-period cross-over study set in 7 surgical wards covering different surgical specialities. A total of 10,000 patients > 18 years will be tested over 16 months. The only difference between the two study periods is the method used for the detection of MRSA in each ward (rapid v conventional culture), with all other infection control practices remaining consistent between the arms. The study has been designed to complement routine practice in the NHS. Outcomes are MRSA cross-infection rates (primary outcome) and need for antibiotic therapy and MRSA-related morbidity. Parallel economic and modelling studies are being conducted to aid in the interpretation of the results and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the rapid PCR screening strategy. DISCUSSION: This paper highlights the design, methods and operational aspects of a study evaluating rapid MRSA screening in the surgical ward setting.

5 Hour test hailed as effective

Link: New Data Presented Confirms The Efficacy And Value Of Rapid MRSA Detection Test, UK.

The recently launched culture based rapid MRSA test demonstrates continued efficiency and reliability in the fight against Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus (commonly referred to as MRSA), according to a UK study presented at the Infectious Diseases Society of America 45th annual meeting1. The study confirms that the 3M BacLite rapid MRSA test provides consistent, fast and accurate results as the first rapid culture test that can effectively and reliably detect the absence of MRSA in just five hours. The multi-centre study based on results from three hospitals in the United Kingdom processed 458 nasal and groin MRSA screening swabs using the 3M BacLite rapid MRSA test, a five-hour culture-based test that detects the potentially deadly bacteria direct from clinical specimens. Of the 248 nasal screening swabs analysed, results demonstrated a diagnostic sensitivity of 94.6% and a diagnostic specificity of 96.9%. >From the 210 groin swabs, the 3M BacLite rapid MRSA test provided a diagnostic sensitivity of 95.9% and a diagnostic specificity of 88.8%1.

Quick Microchip Test For Dangerous Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria, UK

Link: Quick Microchip Test For Dangerous Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria, UK.

Researchers at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Surrey have developed microchips capable of quickly and cheaply identifying dangerous and drug resistant bacteria in clinical samples, scientists announced today Wednesday 5 September 2007 at the Society for General Microbiology's 161st Meeting at the University of Edinburgh, UK, which runs from 3- 6 September 2007. For the first time doctors and veterinarians will be able to test clinical samples from their patients for the presence of the genes for antibiotic resistance in bacteria, getting the results within 24 hours instead of having to wait for as much as a week. "We have developed a test chip which can accurately identify 56 virulence genes in the diarrhoea-causing Escherichia coli bacteria and 54 antimicrobial resistance genes covering all the known families of gram-negative bacteria", says Dr Muna Anjum from the UK's Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Addlestone, Surrey.

AdvanDx's PNA FISH Tests To Identify Bloodstream Pathogens In Hours Versus Days

Link: AdvanDx's .

AdvanDx, Inc. announced that the Lee Memorial Health System has implemented AdvanDx's rapid, molecular-based PNA FISH tests that provide rapid identification of bloodstream pathogens in hours instead of days, enabling labs to quickly report critical information to physicians and pharmacists to ensure optimal therapy and help reduce death rates for patients afflicted with bloodstream infections. Every year, 350,000 patients acquire bloodstream infections in the U.S. resulting in more than 90,000 deaths and significant costs to the healthcare system. Conventional diagnostics methods can take several days and often causes physicians to administer broad antibiotic or antifungal coverage that are potentially ineffective, toxic, expensive or even unnecessary. Ineffective and inappropriate therapy contributes to increased mortality, morbidity, length of stay, overall hospital costs and in the long run to increased antibiotic resistance.

Sensors to detect MRSA?

Link: Medicine Weekly.

A research team from Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) is working on a project using an embedded network of sensors that could result in a method of tracking biohazards in hospitals and helping eradicate infections such as MRSA. These network-embedded systems are similar to small computers or microprocessors that are part of everyday devices, including items for medical use, in phones, cars, or in security devices such as swipe cards used to open doors. While embedded technology has been in use for 30 years, the next stage of development is to network them together, explained lead researcher Dr Dirk Pesch. “If we had technology to detect MRSA, for example, we could place little sensors around hospitals to monitor the presence of a biohazard and alert it back to the ‘internet’ or network. You could then check if this hospital is clean in terms of biohazards,” he explained.

HPA developing MRSA detector

Link: Yorkshire Post - Business � - Avacta signs development deal.

It specialises in technology to measure substances via devices that are either hand-held or mounted on vehicles. Such devices are usually operated by the armed services, police and scientists. Yesterday's agreement is to convert an Avacta prototype into a hand-held field detector. It is being funded for 12 months by government research institutions, by which time Avacta believes the detector will be viable for commercial production and sale. Applications are expected to lie in the detection of infectious agents like anthrax, the hospital super-bug MRSA and bird flu. HPA is the independent body headquartered at the infectious diseases centre in Porton Down, Wiltshire. CSL is dedicated to protecting the food chain and environmental health.

Performance of the BD GeneOhmTM MRSA Test

Link: Performance of the BD GeneOhmTM MRSA Test Before and, During High-Volume Clinical Use -- Paule et al., 10.1128/JCM.00670-07 -- Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

We evaluated use of the BD GeneOhmTM MRSA (BD Diagnostics, San Diego, CA) real-time PCR assay for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal colonization. The initial evaluation consisted of 403 paired nasal swabs and was done using the kit provided specimen preparation and an in-house lysis method that was specifically developed to accommodate large volume testing using a minimal amount of personnel time. One swab was placed into an achromopeptidase (ACP) lysis solution and the other was used for culture, then prepared according to the kit protocol. PCR was performed on both lysates with results compared to culture. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the PCR assay was 98%, 96%, 77%, and 99.7% with the kit lysate and 98%, 95%, 75% and 99.7% with the ACP lysate (p = NS). The second evaluation was done after implementation of all-admission surveillance using PCR with ACP lysis and a sampling of 1107 PCR negative samples and 215 PCR positive samples that were confirmed by culture. The results of this sampling showed a NPV of 99.9% and a PPV of 73.5% (prevalence = 6%), which were consistent with our initial findings. The BD GeneOhmTM MRSA assay is an accurate and rapid way to detect MRSA nasal colonization. When dealing with large specimen numbers, the ACP lysis method offers easier processing without negatively affecting the PCR assay sensitivity or specificity.

StaphPlex System - the 5 hour test

Link: StaphPlex System for Rapid and Simultaneous Identification of Antibiotic Resistance Determinants and Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Detection of Staphylococci from Positive Blood Cultures -- Tang et al. 45 (6): 1867 -- Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

A 5 hr detection system is evaluated for accuracy

10 minute MRSA test to be trialled

Link: The Sunday Herald .

A NEW system which enables patients to be screened for MRSA in just 10 minutes is set to undergo trials in the NHS. The technology, developed in conjunction with experts at Strathclyde University, uses naturally occuring viruses that prey on bacteria as a sensor to detect for the superbug. Swabs taken from patients are read on a machine - similar to those used in bank ATMs - which nurses on wards can directly access, instead of having to send tests to a laboratory. The firm behind the system claims it will allow staff to identify quickly the estimated 80% of people who are not carrying MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) and allow them to concentrate infection control measures on high-risk patients. advertisement Although scientists are still working on the final stages of the development of the system, it is anticipated that clinical trials will begin later this year in up to four NHS hospitals across the UK, including one in Scotland.

MRSA

Synergy launches NHS superbug 4 hour screening

Link: Synergy launches NHS superbug screening | Health | SocietyGuardian.co.uk.

Synergy Healthcare is in talks with a number of NHS trusts over the launch of a new screening service designed to catch patients carrying deadly superbugs before they are admitted to hospital. Patients laid low by superbugs are thought to cost the NHS £1bn a year, but up to 7 per cent of patients may be already infected before they set foot on a ward. Synergy boss Richard Steeves says the test looks specifically for MRSA bacteria, and could save hospitals £100m a year. Its labs complete the test in four hours, and diagnosed patients can then be treated separately.