Related Experiment Videos
Current status of Pseudomonas cepacia typing systems
C S Rabkin1, W R Jarvis, W J Martone
1Epidemiology Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
European Journal of Epidemiology
|December 1, 1987
Summary
Developing accurate typing methods for Pseudomonas cepacia, a significant nosocomial pathogen, is crucial. Current methods like serology and bacteriocins show promise but require further validation for effective transmission tracking.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pseudomonas cepacia is a significant opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with hospital-acquired infections.
- Effective methods for determining the relatedness of Pseudomonas cepacia isolates are essential for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate existing and propose improved typing systems for Pseudomonas cepacia isolates.
- To assess the utility of different strain characteristics for epidemiological investigations.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of four proposed typing systems: serologic reactions, biochemical reactions, plasmid profiles, and bacteriocin production/susceptibility.
- Assessment of the discriminatory power of each typing method.
Main Results:
- Serologic reactions and bacteriocin profiles demonstrated potential for distinguishing between Pseudomonas cepacia strains.
- The sensitivity and specificity of serologic and bacteriocin typing methods require further determination.
Conclusions:
- Current typing systems for Pseudomonas cepacia require further refinement and validation.
- Improved typing strategies are needed to effectively identify reservoirs and transmission routes of this nosocomial pathogen.