A method for detecting S. aureus in a sample, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the sample with a lysate comprising a plurality of non-replicative transduction particles (NRTPs) such that the plurality of NRTPs transduces S. aureus, if present in the sample, wherein the plurality of NRTPs are produced by (i) inducing a lytic phase of a bacterial cell packaging system, wherein said bacterial cell packaging system comprises: a host bacteria cell; a φ80α bacteriophage genome having a disrupted terS packaging initiation site sequence existing as a lysogen within the host bacteria cell; a reporter nucleic acid molecule separate from the φ80α bacteriophage genome, having a luxAB reporter gene and a non-disrupted packaging initiation site sequence for facilitating packaging of a replicon of the reporter nucleic acid molecule into the NRTP, wherein the reporter nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO:5; (ii) allowing the replicon of the reporter nucleic acid molecule to be packaged to produce the NRTPs; (b) providing conditions for expression of the luxAB reporter gene; and (c) detecting the presence or absence of light produced by the luxAB reporter gene, wherein the presence of light indicates the presence of S. aureus. (a) contacting the sample with a lysate comprising a plurality of non-replicative transduction particles (NRTPs) such that the plurality of NRTPs transduces S. aureus, if present in the sample, wherein the plurality of NRTPs are produced by (i) inducing a lytic phase of a bacterial cell packaging system, wherein said bacterial cell packaging system comprises: a host bacteria cell; a φ80α bacteriophage genome having a disrupted terS packaging initiation site sequence existing as a lysogen within the host bacteria cell; a reporter nucleic acid molecule separate from the φ80α bacteriophage genome, having a luxAB reporter gene and a non-disrupted packaging initiation site sequence for facilitating packaging of a replicon of the reporter nucleic acid molecule into the NRTP, wherein the reporter nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO:5; (ii) allowing the replicon of the reporter nucleic acid molecule to be packaged to produce the NRTPs; (i) inducing a lytic phase of a bacterial cell packaging system, wherein said bacterial cell packaging system comprises: a host bacteria cell; a φ80α bacteriophage genome having a disrupted terS packaging initiation site sequence existing as a lysogen within the host bacteria cell; a reporter nucleic acid molecule separate from the φ80α bacteriophage genome, having a luxAB reporter gene and a non-disrupted packaging initiation site sequence for facilitating packaging of a replicon of the reporter nucleic acid molecule into the NRTP, wherein the reporter nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO:5; (ii) allowing the replicon of the reporter nucleic acid molecule to be packaged to produce the NRTPs; (b) providing conditions for expression of the luxAB reporter gene; and (c) detecting the presence or absence of light produced by the luxAB reporter gene, wherein the presence of light indicates the presence of S. aureus.