Rapid Determination of Resistance to Antibiotic Inhibitors of Protein Synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus Through In Situ Evaluation of DNase Activity.

A rapid assay was designed for the detection of resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus to antibiotic inhibitors of protein synthesis. The assay was based on the fact that a brief cell wall digestion with lysostaphin resulted in fragmentation of the chromosomal DNA by releasing the characteristic DNase stored in the cell wall. DNase activity was ascertained by visualization of the DNA fragments released from the isolated nucleoids.