Development of a new selective medium for isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

A new selective medium containing cephem antibiotics was developed for isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA colonies on a medium containing ceftazidime (CAZ) were most easily identifiable and a medium containing cefoperazone (CPZ) was superior in suppressing the growth of other bacteria. With the medium containing a couple of CAZ and CPZ, MRSA and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS) were detected from 2 and 1 of 15 chicken meat samples respectively.