[Evaluation of three methods for genotyping of nosocomial methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates].
Plasmid profile analysis (PPA), random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) are the three most valuable epidemiological tools for genotyping of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. Aim of this study was to evaluate these three methods in respect to their cost, reproducibility, and discriminatory power. Eighty one nosocomial MRSA isolates with unknown genetic and epidemiological relatedness from Training Hospital of Gulhane Military Medical School, were genotyped by PPA, RAPD, and PFGE methods. All isolates (100%) were typed by RAPD and PFGE, however, eight (9.9%) isolates could not be typed by PPA since they lacked plasmid DNA. Reproducibilities of all the three methods were found to be 100 percent. Discriminatory powers of PPA, RAPD and PFGE methods were calculated as 48.6%, 61.1% and 80.1%, respectively. In conclusion, out of the three methods tested, PFGE allowed the most effective discrimination of MRSA strains. However, PFGE was more time consuming and technically demanding, and required use of specialized and expensive equipment. Although PPA and RAPD were less discriminatory than PFGE, these methods were technically simple, rapid and cheaper. When PPA and RAPD were used in combination, they had equal discriminatory power to PFGE. Thus, it should be emphasized that PPA and RAPD methods could be preferred for initial screening purposes while PFGE should be used as a confirmatory test in genotyping of MRSA isolates.
Sener
Kenan
K
Gülhane Askeri Tip Akademisi, Mikrobiyoloji ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Anabilim Dali, Ankara.
Saraçli
Mehmet Ali
MA
Açikel
Cengiz Han
CH
Doğanci
Levent
L
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D010957:Plasmids / Q000032:analysis*; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors
D004269:DNA, Bacterial