Mannitol-negative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from nasal swab specimens in Brazil

Santos, Danielle Caldeira Martins dosCosta, Thaina Miranda daRabello, Renata FernandesAlves, Fábio AguiarMondino, Silvia Susana Bona de

The isolation of mannitol-negative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from nasal swabs is reported. Among the 59 isolates, 9 (15%) isolates were mannitol-negative; all of these isolates were categorized as staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type IVa. This report emphasizes that mannitol fermentation on mannitol salt agar should not be used as the sole criterion when screening nasal swab specimens for S. aureus.

1. nasal swab surveillance
2. mannitol-negative
3. SCCmec
4. MRSA