Rapid identification and specific quantification of Staphylococcus epidermidis by 5′ nuclease real-time polymerase chain reaction with a minor groove binder probe

Abstract A species-specific quantitative detection method involving 5′ nuclease real-time polymerase chain reaction using a minor groove binder probe that was designed from the sodA gene was developed for Staphylococcus epidermidis . This method distinguished S. epidermidis from other staphylococci and specifically quantified the bacterium. This study shows that the method is useful for the identification and quantitative detection of S. epidermidis .