title: Molecular epidemiological study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from patients with acute leukemia.
abstract: In an attempt to determine the genetic relationship between strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients with acute leukemia, a recently described restriction fragment from the region upstream of the exotoxin A structural gene was used as a probe in Southern hybridization. The overall rate of cultures positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa during 169 admissions (119 patients) was 17%. Twelve genotypically distinct strains were found among 18 colonized and/or infected individuals. Three of these strains were recovered from more than one patient, suggesting a certain risk of nosocomial transmission of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and cross-infection. Genotypic comparison showed identical restriction patterns in multiple isolates from single patients, and also in colonizing and subsequently infecting strains. Genotyping distinguished isolates with similar O serotypes and established the identity between isolates with differing susceptibility to agents used for antibacterial prophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Ulm University Hospital, FRG.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Döring
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000150:complications*; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial