College, Kottayam, for a period of one year from July 2015. The study design was Analytical Diagnostic Test Evaluation. The study was designed at comparing different phenotypic methods in their sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy, keeping mec-A gene detection by PCR as the gold standard. The following six phenotypic methods were performed on Staphylococcus aureus isolates-Cefoxitin Disc Diffusion (CDD), Oxacillin Disc Diffusion (ODD), Oxacillin Screen Agar (OSA), Oxacillin E-Strip (ES), Chromogenic agar medium (ChromID® MRSA SMART-biomerieux) and VITEK-2 system (biomerieux). These were then compared with the gold standard method-mecA gene detection by PCR. RESULTSCefoxitin disc diffusion test and VITEK 2 system showed results in agreement with PCR (Sensitivity and specificity 100%). This was followed by Chrome agar (98.36%, 95.79%), Oxacillin screen agar (95.08%, 98.95%), Oxacillin E-test (95.08%, 97.89%) & Oxacillin disc diffusion test (81.96%, 97.89). CONCLUSIONSCefoxitin disc diffusion test which shows total agreement with PCR is a good surrogate marker for detecting methicillin resistance. However, VITEK-2 system and chromogenic agar media are valuable as they are useful in early detection and screening of MRSA.

BACKGROUND Skin infections are the most common infections occurring in developing countries, of which dermatophytosis are of particular concern in tropics. The prevalence of dermatophytic infections varies with different geographic areas and climatic conditions. Hence, identification of aetiological agents is important for diagnosis and treatment as well as for studying epidemiological characteristics in a region. Objectives-1. To isolate and identify the dermatophytes infecting skin. 2. To compare two different culture media, namely Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar (SDA), Hi-Media Laboratories, Mumbai) with Actidione and Dermatophyte Test Medium (DTM, Hi-Media Laboratories).

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