title: Utility of whole-cell repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence-based PCR (REP-PCR) for the rapid detection of nosocomial outbreaks of multidrug resistant organisms: experience at a tertiary care center in North India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a huge need to develop molecular typing methods which are simple to perform, rapid and cost effective to confirm clonality of nosocomial isolates in outbreak situations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate a hospital outbreak of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Klebsiellapneumoniae septicemia in a paediatric surgery intensive care unit (PSICU) using a repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction (REP-PCR).
  
  
  METHODS
  MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from an outbreak of nosocomial sepsis were typed byREP-PCR using consensus primers. Isolates from different intensive care units (ICUs) but with similar antibiogram were also genotyped for comparison.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A cluster of twelve MDR K Pneumoniae septicemia cases was identiﬁed at the PSICU by genotyping using REP-PCR. Surveillance cultures failed to pick up any source of infection. REP-PCR was found to be a rapid and simple tool for investigation outbreaks in hospitals. Due to early detection we could initiate infection control practices with focus on hand washing and prevent the further transmission of the organism.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Singh
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Biswal
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Hallur
authors: K L N
authors: KL
authors: Rao
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Ray
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Gautam
authors: S B
authors: SB
authors: Appannanavar
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Taneja
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology / Q000379:methods; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D013997:Time Factors