Cepheid is cleared by the FDA to market the Xpert MRSA test, which runs on the GeneXpert System, for the rapid detection of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Xpert MRSA results, delivered in a little over one hour, identify carriers of the potential pathogen and enable healthcare organizations to implement the proper infection control measures, leading to lower hospital-acquired infection rates while improving patient care.
MRSA is a growing public health concern and is cited as the leading cause of Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs). According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HAIs number over two million annually, and more than 100,000 hospital patients die each year as a result of contracting an infection while being treated for another condition.
Cepheid is currently engaged with a broad cross-section of healthcare organizations interested in initiating MRSA surveillance programs. These institutions are actively planning to initiate programs ranging from testing high-risk patients to testing all patient admissions.