title: Use of multiple methods for genotyping Fusarium during an outbreak of contact lens associated fungal keratitis in Singapore.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Singapore, an outbreak of fungal keratitis caused by members of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) was identified in March 2005 to May 2006 involving 66 patients. Epidemiological investigations have indicated that improper contact lens wear and the use of specific contact lens solutions were risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the genetic diversity of the isolates using AFLP, Rep-PCR, and ERIC-PCR and compared the usefulness of these typing schemes to characterize the isolates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AFLP was the most discriminative typing scheme and appears to group FSSC from eye infections and from other infections differently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a high genomic heterogeneity among the isolates confirming that this was not a point source outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore. roland_jureen@alexhosp.com.sg
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jureen
authors.forename: Tse H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Louis Y A
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Ai L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Yong W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tambyah
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beuerman
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000382:microbiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology