Multilocus sequence typing versus pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for characterization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolates.

ABSTRACT: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli strains are emerging pathogens. Molecular typing of ESBL-producing E. coli is useful for surveillance purposes, to monitor outbreaks and track nosocomial spread. Although pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is the current "gold standard" for bacterial molecular typing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) may offer advantages. Forty ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were selected at random from a cohort of intensive care unit patients who had active surveillance perirectal cultures done. PFGE identified 19 unique PFGE types (PT) among the 40 isolates; MLST identified 22 unique sequence types. MLST had greater discriminatory ability than PFGE for ESBL-producing E. coli. Simpson's indices of diversity for PFGE and MLST were 0.

SUBMITTER: Nemoy LL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1081380 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature