Abstract: Objective To establish the fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Q-PCR) method for screening methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA ) colonised patients of intensive care unit(ICU).Methods Collecting the infection specimen or nasal swabs, extracting the DNA,and detecting the nuc gene and mecA gene within the sample by Q-PCR.For the double positive results specimen,MRSA positive was reported and intervening measures were adopted.Results The Q-PCR method improved in this study was rather quick and showed high sensitivity(4 CFU/reaction)and accuracy (100%).Q-PCR screen and early infection control measures reduced the MRSA infection rate of ICU.Conclusion Early screening and intervening of MRSA are helpful to early detection,diagnosis,quarantine and treatment,and also can effectively prevent or stop hospital infection outbreak caused by MRSA.

Key words: methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, polymerase chain reaction, screening