Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (Staphylococcus aureus (blood))

Clinical criteria
Not relevant for surveillance purposes

Laboratory criteria for diagnosis
Isolation of S. aureus from blood culture. The isolate should be identified as S. aureus by producing a positive coagulase test, preferably tube coagulase. Methicillin susceptibility should be determined using one or more of the following methods (or as recommended in the current edition of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net) Microbiological Manual):
- Cefoxitin screen test
- Detection of altered penicillin binding protein (PBP2a)
- Detection of the gene encoding methicillin resistance (mecA)

Epidemiological criteria
NA

Case classification
A. Possible case
NA
B. Probable case
NA
C. Confirmed case
Any person meeting the laboratory criteria

Current as of: 28 May 2018