Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis rules out cross-infection among renal patients with tuberculosis.
A cluster of five cases of tuberculosis occurred on a renal unit in 1993. The initial impression was that this was an outbreak, and cross-infection was suspected. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was carried out on the strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from these cases, using a DNA probe directed against the insertion sequence IS6110. DNA fingerprints obtained by this method differed for all the strains tested, ruling out cross-infection as a cause of the outbreak. This technique is a useful adjunct to standard epidemiological investigations in outbreaks of tuberculosis.
Bendall
R P
RP
Department of Clinical Microbiology, UCL Hospitals, London, UK.
Drobniewski
F A
FA
Jayasena
S D
SD
Nye
P M
PM
Uttley
A H
AH
Scott
G M
GM
D000328:Adult; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D015342:DNA Probes; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000382:microbiology*
D015342:DNA Probes