Use of low-frequency-cleavage restriction endonucleases for DNA analysis in epidemiological investigations of nosocomial bacterial infections.
Epidemiological investigations of bacterial infections are generally based on multiple phenotypic markers that are often difficult to verify. A more general and reliable method is genomic DNA analysis by restriction endonucleases. However, the commonly used endonucleases produce too many fragments for correct separation by agarose electrophoresis. In contrast, simple electrophoretic patterns are obtained after genomic DNA digestion by low-frequency-cleavage restriction endonucleases and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, making it easier to compare numerous strains from the same species. This technique was used to investigate an Acinetobacter calcoaceticus outbreak in a urologic department and bronchial colonization of artificially ventilated patients by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an intensive care unit. The method allowed a clear distinction between epidemic and self-contaminating strains in these different epidemiological situations.
Allardet-Servent
A
A
Faculté de Médecine, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier-Nîmes, France.
Bouziges
N
N
Carles-Nurit
M J
MJ
Bourg
G
G
Gouby
A
A
Ramuz
M
M
D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006801:Humans; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; C025580:endodeoxyribonuclease XBAI; C025651:CCCGGG-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific