Comparison of Oxacillin and Cefoxitin for the Detection of mecAGene to Determine Methicillin Resistance in Coagulase Negative Staphylococci(CoNs)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of Cefoxitin with that of Methicillin/Oxacillin in the determination of mecAgene in Methicillin resistant Coagulase-negative staphylococci(CoNS). We assessed 57 CoNS isolates for mecA gene via PCR, which were subsequently subjected to Methicillin/Oxacillin and Cefoxitin disc diffusion test. These methods are simple, inexpensive and easily available compared to PCR despite less specificity. Out of 41 mecApositive species, 33 (80.5%) were resistant to Methicillin/Oxacillin. Cefoxitin-resistance was seen in all 41 (100%) mecApositive samples. Two (12.5%) mecAnegative isolates of S.saprophyticuswere Methicillin/Oxacillin resistant, but were Cefoxitin sensitive. Four (9.7%) isolates of S.saprophyticus, three (7.3%) of S.epidermidisspecies, and one (2.4%) S.haemolyticusthat were mecApositive were sensitive to Methicillin/Oxacillin but resistant to Cefoxitin. Cefoxitin resistance provides a more accurate picture of mecAgene positivity as compared to Methicillin and Oxacillin.