Infections caused by MRSA are worldwide, resulting in increased mortality and morbidity. Detecting the mecA gene or its product by PCR is recognized as a gold standard for detection of MRSA. In resource limited clinical settings phenotypic method which is simple, rapid, accurate and cost effective is required. Cefoxitin disc diffusion is considered as surrogate marker for mec A gene, and could be considered as gold standard for MR isolates. The aim of this study was to do a comparative evaluation of E-test MIC and Chrom Agar MeReSa against Cefoxitin disc diffusion for detection of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A total of 174 S. aureus isolates were identified, which were subjected to Cefoxitin disc diffusion, Chrom Agar MeReSa and Oxacillin MIC by E-test. A total of 69 isolates were identified as MRSA by Cefoxitin disc diffusion test. In this study sensitivity and specificity of Cefoxitin is 100% while sensitivity and specificity of Chrom Agar MeReSa as 88.23% and 91.50% and Oxacillin MIC by E-test comes out as 94.02% and 94.39%.

Infections caused by MRSA are worldwide, resulting in increased mortality and morbidity. Detecting the mecA gene or its product by PCR is recognized as a gold standard for detection of MRSA. In resource limited clinical settings phenotypic method which is simple, rapid, accurate and cost effective is required. Cefoxitin disc diffusion is considered as surrogate marker for mec A gene, and could be considered as gold standard for MR isolates. The aim of this study was to do a comparative evaluation of E-test MIC and Chrom Agar MeReSa against Cefoxitin disc diffusion for detection of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A total of 174 S. aureus isolates were identified, which were subjected to Cefoxitin disc diffusion, Chrom Agar MeReSa and Oxacillin MIC by E-test. A total of 69 isolates were identified as MRSA by Cefoxitin disc diffusion test. In this study sensitivity and specificity of Cefoxitin is 100% while sensitivity and specificity of Chrom Agar MeReSa as 88.23% and 91.50% and Oxacillin MIC by E-test comes out as 94.02% and 94.39%.