title: Detection of toxigenic bacteria in polyurethane foam from cot mattresses by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: A sensitive methodology for PCR detection of Staphylococcus aureus or Bordetella pertussis DNA within cot mattress polyurethane foam was developed. The assay's applicability was evaluated on polyurethane foam from used cot mattresses. S. aureus DNA was detected in 42% of mattresses of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) victims and 29% of comparison group (no death) mattresses tested. B. pertussis DNA was detected in 50% of SIDS mattresses and 27% of comparison group mattresses. There was no significant statistical association between SIDS cases and the presence of S. aureus or B. pertussis DNA in cot mattress polyurethane.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sherburn
authors.forename: Tania E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Richard O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001513:Beds / Q000382:microbiology*; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000032:analysis*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes; C028279:polyurethane foam