Introduction
The Xpert® MRSA/SA BC is an in vitro diagnostic medical device designed for the rapid detection of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA) in positive blood culture specimens. This test provides results in about an hour, addressing the urgent need for timely and effective detection of S. aureus bacteremia, especially in the context of rising antimicrobial resistance.

The Need
Bloodstream infections, particularly sepsis, are a significant healthcare concern, with 3.4 million cases annually in Europe, resulting in 700,000 deaths. MRSA and SA are responsible for up to 35% of severe sepsis cases. Traditional culture-based methods take 18-48 hours to identify MRSA or SA, leading to the use of empiric treatments that may be costly and contribute to drug resistance.

The Solution
The Xpert® MRSA/SA BC test offers on-demand molecular testing, providing accurate detection of MRSA or SA from gram-positive blood culture samples in about an hour. This rapid testing allows for actionable information to be available when most needed, integrating seamlessly into hospital sepsis intervention protocols.

The Impact
A clinical study demonstrated that using the Xpert® MRSA/SA BC test, along with an infectious disease pharmacist consultation, led to a switch to optimal antimicrobial therapy 1.7 days sooner, reduced the mean length of hospital stay by 6.2 days, and decreased hospital costs by €15,643 per bacteremic patient.

Workflow
The test involves a simple three-step process with less than one minute of hands-on time: mixing the sample, transferring it to the elution reagent vial, and inserting the cartridge into the system to start the test.

Product Information
The document lists various catalog numbers for different test kits, including Xpert MRSA/SA BC, Xpert SA Nasal Complete, and Xpert MRSA NxG, available in different quantities.

Contact Information
Corporate and European headquarters contact details are provided for further inquiries.

References
The document cites references from WHO and clinical studies supporting the efficacy and impact of the Xpert® MRSA/SA BC test.