Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA Based Typing of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

P K Menon1, Shiva Priya Eswaran2, S S Pant3

  • 1Classified Specialist (Pathology & Microbiology), Command Hospital (Air Force), Bangalore 560 007.

Insights

This study investigated bacterial endophthalmitis outbreaks caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) typing proved a rapid method for tracking infectious disease outbreaks.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • An epidemic of bacterial endophthalmitis occurred following an eye camp in Sangli, Maharashtra.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa was identified as the causative agent in clinical samples.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis as a rapid typing method for Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates during an epidemic.
  • To compare RAPD typing with conventional methods like pyocin typing and antibiogram.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of 15 distinct Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from clinical samples.
  • Typing of isolates using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, pyocin typing, and antibiogram.
  • RAPD analysis involved reproducible electrophoretic band patterns to identify distinct amplification patterns.

Main Results:

  • RAPD typing was significantly faster (within 6 hours) and less labor-intensive than conventional methods (48 hours).
  • RAPD analysis revealed three distinct amplification patterns among the isolates.
  • There was a lack of correlation between the results obtained from RAPD typing, pyocin typing, and antibiogram.

Conclusions:

  • Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) typing is a rapid and effective supplementary method for the epidemiological surveillance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreaks.
  • Despite its speed, RAPD typing results did not correlate with conventional typing methods in this study.
  • Further research may be needed to understand the discrepancies between different typing methods for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.