Application of genomic DNA subtyping by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and restriction enzyme analysis of plasmid DNA to characterize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from two nosocomial outbreaks.
Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and restriction enzyme analysis of plasmid DNA (REAP) were applied to study the epidemiologic relationship among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from outbreaks in two hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil: 82 MRSA isolates, 73 from a university hospital and nine from a general adult intensive care unit of a private hospital, were collected from 62 patients: 95% of the MRSAs were also resistant to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. REAP subtyping of both collections identified six different subtypes: 55 (72.6%) MRSAs from the university hospital and nine isolates from the private hospital shared the same epidemic REAP subtype. Discrimination by restriction of genomic DNA with Sma I followed by PFGE enabled the identification of 14 DNA subtypes. Based on the combined REAP-genomic DNA subtype, the predominant subtype in the university hospital was A/A (44 isolates) whereas the epidemic subtype in the private hospital was A/M (seven isolates). The application of two typing methods showed better discrimination among MRSAs than did either method alone.
Branchini
M L
ML
Study of Transmitted Diseases, Campinas State University, São Paulo, Brazil.
Morthland
V H
VH
Tresoldi
A T
AT
Von Nowakonsky
A
A
Dias
M B
MB
Pfaller
M A
MA
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes / Q000032:analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes