title: Evaluation of repetitive element sequence-based PCR as a molecular typing method for Clostridium difficile.
abstract: Repetitive element sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) is a typing method that enables the generation of DNA fingerprinting that discriminates bacterial strains. In this study, we evaluated the applicability of rep-PCR in typing Clostridium difficile clinical isolates. The results obtained by rep-PCR were compared with those obtained by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and PCR ribotyping. A high correspondence between pattern differentiations produced by rep-PCR and PFGE was observed, whereas PCR ribotyping showed a lower level of discriminatory power.
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology and Medical Mycology Laboratory, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spigaglia
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mastrantonio
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D021521:Ribotyping