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[Coagulase gene polymorphism in Staphylococcus aureus--a new epidemiologic marker]
1Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Universität Würzburg.
Immunitat Und Infektion
|February 1, 1995
Summary
A novel coagulase (coa) gene length polymorphism technique offers a faster, more accessible method for typing Staphylococcus aureus strains. This method aids in identifying infectious sources and tracking outbreaks more efficiently than traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Nosocomial infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus require rapid identification of transmission chains and sources.
- Conventional typing methods like phage typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) are laborious, time-consuming, and require specialized laboratories.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the coagulase (coa) gene length polymorphism as a novel epidemiological marker for typing Staphylococcus aureus.
- To assess the discriminatory power of PCR-based amplification of the coa gene and subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.
Summary:
- A new typing technique utilizes the polymorphism in the coagulase (coa) gene of Staphylococcus aureus.
- PCR amplification of the coa gene followed by AluI restriction digestion (coa-RFLP) effectively differentiates strains based on fragment length variations.
- This coa-RFLP method distinguished 64% of clinical isolates and 56% of strains with identical antibiograms, showing promise for outbreak investigations.
Impact:
- Provides a more accessible and efficient method for typing Staphylococcus aureus compared to traditional techniques.
- Facilitates quicker identification of infectious sources and epidemiological links in hospital-acquired infections.
- Demonstrates potential for discriminating between strains, including oxacillin-resistant isolates involved in outbreaks.