EVALUATION OF VITEK GPS-SA CARD FOR TESTING OF OXACILLIN AGAINST BORDERLINE-SUSCEPTIBLE STAPHYLOCOCCI THAT LACK MEC

Fifty-one Staphylococcus aureus strains lacking mec for which oxacilli n MICs were 1 to 8 mu g/ml were tested against oxacillin and the combi nation of oxacillin and clavulanic acid with the Vitek GPS-Sa card, th e reference broth microdilution method, and the oxacillin agar screen plate. Of the 51 strains, 44 (86%) did not grow on the oxacillin agar screen plate, broth microdilution MICs were 1 to 2 mu g/ml, and GPS-SA card MICs were less than or equal to 2 mu g/ml, with the exception of 3 strains that failed to grow in the card on repeated attempts. Anoth er seven strains did grow on the oxacillin agar screen plate. For four of the latter group of strains, oxacillin broth microdilution MICs we re >4 mu g/ml and GPS-SA card MICs were greater than or equal to 4 mu g/ml; for the other 3 strains, corresponding MICs were 4 and less than or equal to 2 mu g/ml, respectively. The GPS-SA card classified 86% o f strains as oxacillin susceptible.