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Epidemiological survey of an outbreak of multiresistantSerratia marcescens by PCR-fingerprinting

Epidemiologische Überwachung eines Ausbruches mit multiresistentenSerratia marcescens mittels PCR-Fingerprinting

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Summary

During an outbreak ofSerratia marcescens from May to November 1993 43 strains obtained from 27 ICU patients infected or colonized with multiresistantS. marcescens were genotypically characterized with random amplified polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR)-fingerprinting. In addition, 43 epidemiologically unrelated control isolates were selected. PCR-fingerprinting identified ten different genotypes ofS. marcescens among the outbreak related strains. One predominant genotype was demonstrated in 21/43 isolates of 11/27 patients. A cluster of this genotype was found in seven/eight patients on the cardiosurgical ICU. The epidemiologically unrelated strains all showed different genotypes as compared to the predominant type. This survey proved RAPD-PCR to be a highly discriminatory and reproducible method for epidemiological studies ofS. marcescens strains in nosocomial outbreaks.

Zusammenfassung

Beschrieben wird der genotypische Nachweis einerSerratia marcescens-Epidemie auf einer Intensivstation mittels random-amplified polymerase chain finger-printing (RAPD-PCR). Bestimmt wurde der Genotyp von 43 multiresistentenS. marcescens-Stämmen, die zwischen Mai und November 1993 von 27 kolonisierten/infizierten Intensivpatienten isoliert wurden. Zudem wurden 43 Isolate ohne Bezug zur Epidemie typisiert. Mittels PCR-Fingerprinting wurden unter den epidemischen Isolaten 10 Genotypen identifiziert. Ein Genotyp wurde bei insgesamt 21 der 43 Isolate, bzw. 11 der 27 Patienten gefunden, inklusive bei 7 von 8 Patienten der thoraxchirurgischen Intensivstation. Dieser Genotyp wurde nicht unter den Kontrollisolaten nachgewiesen. In unserer Studie erwies sich RAPD-PCR als gut diskriminierende und reproduzierbare Methode zur epidemiologischen Aufklärung von nosokomialenS. marcescens-Ausbrüchen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital St. Radboud, Nijmegen, P. O. Box. 9101, NL-6500, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Sylvia B. Debast M. D., W. J. G. Melchers Ph. D., A. Voss M. D.,  Jacomina A. A. Hoogkamp-Korstanje M. D., Ph. D. & J. F. G. M. Meis M. D., Ph. D.

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  1. Sylvia B. Debast M. D.
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  2. W. J. G. Melchers Ph. D.
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  3. A. Voss M. D.
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  4. Jacomina A. A. Hoogkamp-Korstanje M. D., Ph. D.
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  5. J. F. G. M. Meis M. D., Ph. D.
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Debast, S.B., Melchers, W.J.G., Voss, A. et al. Epidemiological survey of an outbreak of multiresistantSerratia marcescens by PCR-fingerprinting. Infection 23, 267–271 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01716283

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