Ribotyping of selected isolates of Enterobacter cloacae and clinical data related to biotype, phage type, O-serotype, and ribotype.
In order to evaluate if ribotyping of selected isolates of Enterobacter cloacae could further elucidate the epidemiology, we performed ribotyping of 109 isolates indistinguishable by bio-, phage-, and O-serotyping, with inconclusive typing results, or from patients with more than one isolate. Ribotyping provided additional information, and some cases of cross-infection or common source of infection were revealed. Under the supposition that isolates sharing the same ribotype were of the same origin, problems arose with respect to bio-, O-sero, as well as phage typing; in particular a remarkable number of isolates showed differences in phage type. In order to identify possible virulence characteristics of certain types, clinical data were related to bio-, phage-, O-sero-, and ribotype. Biotype 66 was significantly more frequent among blood culture isolates (P = 0.001), but this might have reflected the presence of a certain strain in the environment of the intensive care unit, where patients were more likely to develop bacteraemia; serotype 04 was significantly more frequent among isolates from the urinary tract (P = 0.02), and serotype 013 was more frequent among women (P = 0.05). One ribotype was found only among community-acquired isolates, which might suggest that it is a frequent but less virulent strain.
Weischer
M
M
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kolmos
H J
HJ
D001435:Bacteriophages; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D016972:Enterobacter cloacae / Q000145:classification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D019081:O Antigens; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D015183:Restriction Mapping
D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D019081:O Antigens; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial