Table 1 Primer Sequences and PCR Conditions Used

S.aureus- specific nuc gene

F:GCGATTGATGGTGATACGG TT

R:AGCCAAGCCTTGACGAA CTAAAGC

Initial denaturation of 94 ^oC for 5 min; 35 cycles of denaturation of 94 ^oC for 30 s; annealing at 55 ^oC for 30s; extension at 72 ^oC for 1 min; and final extension at 72 ^oC for 10 min.

270

[12]

Mec A

F:AGTTCTGCAGTACCGGAT TG

R:AAAATCGATGGTAAGGT TCGC

Initial denaturation of 94 ^oC for 5 min;40 cycles of denaturation of 94 ^oC for 30 s; annealing at 55 ^oC for 30 s; extension at 72 ^oC for 60 s; and final extension at 72 ^oC for 5 min.

533

[19]

Van A

F:GGCAAGTCAGGTGAAGA TG

R:ATCAAGCGGTCAATCAG TTC

Initial denaturation of 94 ^oC for 5 min; 40 cycles of denaturation at 94 ^oC for 1 min; annealing at 55 ^oC for 1 min; extension at 72 ^oC for 2 min; and final extension at 72 ^oC for 5 min.

713

[20]

Van B

F:GTGACAAACCGGAGGCG AGGA

R:CCGCCATCCTCCTGCAAA AAA

Initial denaturation of 94 ^oC for 10 min; 30 cycles of denaturation of 94 ^oC for 30 s; annealing at 50 ^oC for 45 min; extension at 72 ^oC for 30 s and final extension at 72 ^oC for 10 min

430

[21]

Erm A

F:TATCTTATCGTTGAGAAG GGATT

R:CTACACTTGGCTTAGGAT GAAA

Initial denaturation of 94 ^oC for 5 min; 30 cycles of denaturation of 95 ^oC for 1 min; annealing at 55 ^oC for 30 s; extension at 72 ^oC `for 2 min and final extension at 72 ^oC for 10 min

139

[22]

Erm B

F:CTATCTGATTGTTGAAGA AGGATT

R:GTTTACTCTTGGTTTAGG ATGAAA

142

Erm C

F:CTTGTTGATCACGATAAT TTCC

R:ATCTTTTAGCAAACCCGT ATTC

190