title: Staphylococcus epidermidis biotype 4: epidemiological conclusions from five different typing methods.
abstract: There is presently no accepted method for marking individual strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Consequently, five parameters for distinguishing such strains were examined and compared for their epidemiological efficacy: biotyping, serotyping, proteinase grouping, aminopeptidase profiles and antibiograms. Both biotyping and proteinase grouping were of limited use in identifying a particular strain, although they were helpful in initially categorizing such strains. Antibiograms were least useful because of similarities in susceptibility patterns among isolates. Serotyping and amino-peptidase profiles provided the best means of identifying an individual strain for epidemiological use. The applicability of these typing methods was demonstrated during a one year epidemiological study at a chronic disease hospital.
mesh_terms: D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D012703:Serotyping; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D000626:Aminopeptidases