title: Epidemiological typing of Klebsiella pneumoniae by pyrolysis mass spectrometry.
abstract: Thirteen isolates of ceftazidime-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae from a suspected cross-infection outbreak involving patients on an intensive care unit and a haematology ward were examined in pyrolysis-mass spectrometry (Py-MS), along with eight concurrent non-outbreak-associated clinical isolates of klebsiellae as controls. Py-MS showed tight clustering of the suspected outbreak isolates, suggesting cross-infection with a single strain. Non-outbreak isolates were clearly distinct from one another and from the outbreak strain. The results confirm that Py-MS is a powerful tool for rapid strain comparison in investigations of cross-infection incidents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Heginbothom
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Magee
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects; D013058:Mass Spectrometry