Strain differentiation of nosocomial isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by pyrolysis mass spectrometry.
Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PyMS) was used for rapid interstrain comparison of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from a small outbreak of sternal wound infections in a cardiothoracic surgical ward. The PyMS results were compared with those obtained by conventional O-serotyping. All the isolates were phage non-typable. Evidence obtained from PyMS of identity/non-identity between isolates correlated completely with that obtained by O-typing and correctly identified those isolates comprising the epidemic strain, in one instance in advance of O-serotyping. The speed and versatility of PyMS make it an attractive technique for the initial screening of isolates from nosocomial outbreaks of infection with P. aeruginosa and other organisms.
Sisson
P R
PR
Department of Microbiology, Regional Public Health Laboratory, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Freeman
R
R
Gould
F K
FK
Lightfoot
N F
NF
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013045:Species Specificity