Antimicrobial resistance spread has been consistently rising to alarming levels triggering WHO surveillance action across multiple nations throughout the globe. WHO has also published the list of ‘Priority pathogens’ with the AMR focus to bolster awareness, research and innovation in this area. Amongst the leading pathogens, the common name that is attributed to > 1 Lakh deaths across the globe in 2019 is the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

MRSA is rapidly evolving more resistance with certain last-resort antibiotics like Vancomycin, Daptomycin, and Tigecycline, rendering action-less against the resistant strains. Coagulase production attribute is used as a confirmatory test for identification of Staphylococcus aureus from other species of Staphylococcus like S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus. This differentiation is necessary as other species, too, have been exhibiting resistance to Cefoxitin and other antibiotics with the genotype mecA. Additionally, identification of the exact causative agent and its antimicrobial susceptibility is crucial for commencing the patients’ treatment. Moreover, Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus is among the most ubiquitous and dangerous human pathogens for both its virulence and its ability to develop antibiotic resistance.

The only way the spread of MRSA can be controlled and reduced is through systematic surveillance and screening for the resistant types. Early detection of the bacterium can also help with reducing the instances of associated mortality.

HiMRSA™ Confirmation Agar Base – M2126 is recommended for selective isolation of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from other Methicillin-resistant Staphylococci species on the basis of coagulase activity from clinical samples.

The medium works on the principle of fermentation and coagulase reaction.

• Mannitol is the fermentable carbohydrate that is indicated by yellow-colored colonies.
• Mannitol negative strains display light mauve to purple-colored colonies.
• Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus colonies are surrounded by an opaque zone, while the absence of an opaque zone indicates coagulase-negative species.
• Selective agents and the selective supplements inhibit most of the contaminating microflora.

The HiMRSA™ Confirmation Agar Base – M2126 can help speed up the confirmatory identification of the MRSA and MRSE right in the microbial culturing step and thus hasten the turnaround time for patient samples, which is the need of the hour.

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