The IS 6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates has revolutionized the description of the epidemiology of tuberculosis. This technique has been used to confirm suspected cases of transmission in several institutional settings. In this study, we analysed by conventional and molecular epidemiological methods the unexpectedly high number of tuberculosis cases which occurred among 14 mentally handicapped patients and a healthcare worker in Havana's Psychiatric Hospital in the period from 1995 to 1998. Twelve M. tuberculosis isolates of the respective patients showed the same DNA fingerprint, consisting of nine bands. Three other different IS 6110 RFLP patterns with 10, eight, and 10 bands were observed. The results of RFLP analysis and of an additional epidemiological investigation allowed the identification of the probable source of this chain of transmission in the healthcare facility. This would not have been possible without the aid of DNA fingerprinting. Delays in diagnosis of the source patient and of the secondary cases, a tardy and deficient tuberculin skin test and the difficulties of management of mentally handicapped patients probably contributed to spread the M. tuberculosis strain in Havana's Psychiatric Hospital.
Copyright 2001 The Hospital Infection Society.