Application of molecular typing methods to characterize nosocomial coagulase-negative staphylococci collected in a Greek hospital during a three-year period (1998-2000)

Microb Drug Resist. 2003 Fall;9(3):273-82. doi: 10.1089/107662903322286481.

Abstract

A total of 143 methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MR-CNS) collected between 1998 and 2000 at the University Hospital of Patras, Greece, were characterized by antibiogram and genomic typing to define the clonal types endemic in this hospital and their evolution during the 3-year period. These isolates corresponded to 93 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) and 50 other MR-CNS, which were isolated from patients in different wards, exclusively from blood and catheter tips cultures. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI macrofragments and hybridization of ClaI digests with mecA and murE DNA probes were performed. The application of these methodologies demonstrated the existence, persistence and spread of MRSE, MR-Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and MR-Staphylococcus hominis clones in this hospital, whereas the SmaI/murE hybridization pattern was shown to be a valuable tool for the MRSE identification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Typing Techniques*
  • Chromosomes, Bacterial / genetics
  • Coagulase / chemistry*
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / microbiology*
  • DNA Probes
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Genotype
  • Greece / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / classification*
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / enzymology*
  • beta-Lactamases / metabolism

Substances

  • Coagulase
  • DNA Probes
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • beta-Lactamases