Abstract
PC is now recognized as an important pathogen among CF patients. However, little is known regarding its epidemiology. We have developed a typing system which allows determination of isolate genotype. Following isolation and endonuclease digestion, PC chromosomal DNA fragments were separated by agarose gel electro-phoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose, and probed with 32p labelled ribosomal RNA purified from Escherichia coli. Hybridization band polymorphism allowed discrimination of unique and identical isolate genotypes. Analysis of 9 PC isolates of unknown epidemiological significance obtained from 6 geographically diverse locations revealed 8 distinct genotypes. The 2 identical isolates originated from the same CF center. Of 7 blindly selected (nonsibling) PC isolates obtained from our CF center, 3 were found to have an identical genotype. Twelve PC isolates obtained from the 8 members of 3 sibships attending our CF center were available for study. In 2 of these 3 families, the isolates from each sibling exhibited identical genotype. In the remaining family each of the 3 siblings were colonized by genotypically distinct strains, although siblings A & B had identical isolates at certain times. Our data suggest that individuals attending the same CF center may be colonized with common PC strains. Furthermore, we have shown that while some siblings with CF are colonized with identical PC strains, others are not. The epidemiologic relevance of our findings in siblings requires further elucidation.
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Lipuma, J., Schidlow, D., Edlind, T. et al. MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PSEUDOMONAS CEPACIA (PC) IN PATTENS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF). Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 258 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00547
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00547