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PYOCINE-TYPING OF HOSPITAL STRAINS OF PSEUDOMONAS PYOCYANEA
Abstract:
A method of typing Pseudomonas pyocyanea is described which makes use of the property of bacteriocine production. The method was applied in an epidemiological study of Ps. pyocyanea infection in a general hospital. It was found that the majority of strains believed on epidemiological grounds to be of common origin were allotted to the same pyocine type. In the course of this study, Ps. pyocyanea was isolated from 219 patients; 474 strains from 149 of these were typed. There was evidence of cross-infection among patients in a urogenital surgical ward, but in other parts of the hospital there appeared to be little cross-infection. A number of individual instances of auto-infection, possibly arising from the bowel flora, were seen.
Insights
This study introduces bacteriocine typing for Pseudomonas pyocyanea (Ps. pyocyanea) to track hospital infections. The method effectively identified common origins of Ps. pyocyanea strains and revealed cross-infection patterns in a surgical ward.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Pseudomonas pyocyanea (now known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa) is a significant opportunistic pathogen, frequently causing hospital-acquired infections.
- Effective typing methods are crucial for epidemiological surveillance and infection control within healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a novel method for typing Pseudomonas pyocyanea strains based on bacteriocine production.
- To apply this bacteriocine typing method in an epidemiological investigation of Ps. pyocyanea infections within a general hospital.
Main Methods:
- Bacteriocine production profiles were used to differentiate and type isolated strains of Pseudomonas pyocyanea.
- Epidemiological data from 219 patients, with 474 strains typed from 149 patients, were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The bacteriocine typing method successfully grouped strains with presumed common origins into the same pyocine type.
- Evidence of significant cross-infection was observed among patients in a urogenital surgical ward.
- Limited cross-infection was noted in other hospital areas, with some instances of auto-infection potentially originating from the bowel flora.
Conclusions:
- Bacteriocine typing is a valuable tool for the epidemiological study of Pseudomonas pyocyanea infections.
- The findings highlight the importance of targeted infection control measures, particularly in high-risk areas like surgical wards.
