| abstract |
The amount of nucleic acids of a microorganism selected from Enterococcus faecium, Listeria monocytogenes, Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Candida albicans, and any species of the genera Enterococcus, Neisseria, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Candida, may be determined in a test sample, by contacting the nucleic acids of the microorganism with specific probes or primers defined in the specification, and detecting hybridisation. The same method may be employed to detect, identify and quantify in a test sample antibiotic resistance genes selected from the group consisting of blatem, blarob, blashv, blaoxa, blaZ, aadB, aacC1, aacC2, aacC3, aacA4, aac6'-IIa, aad(6'), vanA, vanB, vanC, msrA, satA, aac(6'-)aph(2''), vat, vga, ermA, ermB, ermC, mecA, int and sul. The probes and primers as defined in the specification may be provided in diagnostic kits for; the universal detection and quantification of bacteria; and/or the detection, identification and quantification of the above-mentioned bacterial and fungal species and/or genera; and/or the detection, identification and quantification of the above-mentioned antibiotic resistance genes. |