AMPLIFICATION METHODS FOR THE DETECTION OF BACTERIAL-RESISTANCE GENES

Gene amplification techniques are increasingly used in diagnostic micr obiology and the first applications for the detection of antibiotic re sistance have been described. Studies comparing classical methods such as disc diffusion and MIC determinations with PCR for the detection o f resistance have been performed for a number of antibiotics or specif ic organisms. The detection of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcu s aureus is one of the best studies applications of PCR for the detect ion of antibiotic resistance. Detection of quinolone resistance with P CR followed by single-strand conformation polymorphism detection clear ly demonstrates the possibilities of molecular techniques to detect re sistance due to point mutations. The problems caused by multiple genes leading to the same resistance phenotype are illustrated by animoglyc oside resistance detection by PCR. Detection of antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. leprae demonstrate the potential values of gene amplification in slow growing microorganisms. Finally, the detection of vancomycin resistance in enterococci shows the import ance of PCR in monitoring emerging antibiotic resistance. In conclusio n it can be said the PCR techniques have a potential in the field of a ntibiotic resistance detection, but many problems have to be overcome before gene amplification techniques will find a widespread use in thi s field.