An Intricate Discussion on the Conventional and Rapid Identification Methods to Identify MRSA: A Review

Abstract

Mortality due to MRSA infection varies from 10-63%. This study aims to summarize the standard identification methods to identify MRSA and to tally the frequency of methods used by the researchers to pinpoint MRSA. The biochemical and morphological methods include the conventional ways using standard antibiotics whereas, genetic methods look for MRSA specific genes like SCCmec element, mecA, mecC, etc. MRSA possess PBP2a, which can be identified using specific anti PBP2a antibody, brings it under rapid kit-based MRSA identification method. The frequency of the biochemical and morphological, genotypic and rapid kit-based identification methods is 72%, 62% and 19% respectively; whereas the specificity of the biochemical and morphological method and rapid kit-based methods vary between 82-95% and 81-100% respectively. Using whole clinical samples to culture along with the rapid kit-based methods will enhance our chances to identify MRSA rapidly. For the prevention of disease rapid identification is always the utmost priority.