Experience with epidemiologic studies of pyocyaneus infections. I. Feasibility of using serotypes and antibiotic resistance as a epidemiologic label for clinical strains]

The authors carried out serological typing of 98 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, isolated from patients of burn department of the Sklifosovsky First Aid Institute in January-July, 1974, and of 215 strains obtained from other sources; their sensitivity to 13 antibiotics was determined. Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures isolated from the patients were typed with O-sera of 10 serological types. The presence of several hospital strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found by means of serological typing; along with these there were revealed cultures of this causative agent sporadically appearing in the department. Sensitivity to some antibiotics could serve as an additional criterion for differentiation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains of the same serological type.     

Pyocin production by bacillus pyocyaneus and sensitivity of strains of different origin to them

Using the method proposed by Gillies and Govan and their indicator strains, 342 P. aeruginosa strains isolated from the patients were studied in respect to their pyocinogenicity and typed according to the production of different types of pyocins. Besides, in 206 cultures the pyocin sensitivity of 16 standard P. aeruginosa strains (5 strains obtained from Govan and 11 strains provided by the authors) was determined. All the tested cultures fell into 23 pyocin types; of these, types I and X occured most frequently, 56 strains identified by means of indicators could not be typed due to the fact that the corresponding pyocin types were absent in Govan's scheme. The cultures isolated from the patients and the environmental objects during the outbreak of P. aeruginosa in a hospital were proved to belong to the same pyocin type (III). The double typing of the cultures, according to pyocin production and pyocin sensitivity, allowed to determine individual characteristics of 75% of the tested cultures.     

Frequency and susceptibility patterns of non-fermenting gram-negative rods isolated from patients hospitalised in intensive care units of a tertiary care hospital

The aim of the study was to assess frequency and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents of non-fermenting gram-negative rods isolated from clinical specimens obtained from patients requiring intensive care, with emphasis on profile of the unit. Identification of cultured isolates was done using automated VITEK and API systems (bioMerieux, France). Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was tested by a disk-diffusion method according to the NCCLS recommendations. In total the analysis comprised 425 strains of non-fermenting gram-negative rods, constituting 58.9% of all isolates of gram-negative bacteria. In blood cultures predominated strains of A. baumannii (46.8%) and P. aeruginosa (40.4%), while in cultures of other clinical specimens these bacteria comprised 42.9% and 43.9% of isolates. Major differences were observed in frequency of these species on both ICU units. Strains of non-fermenting rods isolated from blood cultures comprised a lower percentage of strains susceptible to antimicrobials (particularly cefepime and carbapenems) than isolates cultured from other specimens. Strains of A. baumannii resistant to imipenem and meropenem were detected with a frequency of 12.5% and 26.7%, respectively. Resistance of P. aeruginosa strains to carbapenems was 62.2% and 44.3%, respectively. There was a relatively high percentage of strains susceptible to cefepime (82.0%), ceftazidime (78.9%), amikacin (77.8%) and piperacillin/tazobactam (69.7%). Conclusions: 1. There was a predominance (58.9%) of strains of gram-negative non-fermenting rods. 2. Isolates from blood cultures were characterised by a much higher percentage of resistant strains in comparison to other specimens. 3. Strains of A. baumannii resistant to carbapenems were recorded. 4. There were differences in frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility among the strains of P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii depending on the type of clinical specimen and ICU profile.     

DNA fingerprinting by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to investigate a nosocomial pneumonia caused by Legionella bozemanii serogroup 1.

We typed 18 isolates of Legionella bozemanii obtained from clinical and environmental sources by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Each of the unrelated strains showed individual restriction patterns of the genomic DNA when either the SfiI or NotI restriction enzyme was used. One strain isolated from a patient with nosocomial legionellosis and two strains from the corresponding hospital water supply were indistinguishable, arguing for a transmission of L. bozemanii from the water supply to the patient. In conclusion, macrorestriction analysis is a valuable tool for studies of the molecular epidemiology of L. bozemanii.     

ICU院内感染流行菌株及耐药情况

目的了解ICU院内感染的流行菌株及菌株耐药,为临床防治提供依据.方法对温州医学院附属第一医院ICU2002年7月～2003年6月所有分离的细菌菌株、真菌菌株及菌株耐药性进行回顾性调查.结果共检出菌株170例,其中G-菌95例(占55.9%),以铜绿假单胞菌、洋葱假单胞菌、鲍曼不动杆菌为主,主要见于呼吸道感染;G 菌36例(占21.2%),以肠球菌和葡萄球菌为主,前者主要见于泌尿道和消化道感染,后者均见于呼吸道;真菌38例(占22.4%),以白色念球菌为主,主要见于泌尿道感染.其细菌对常用抗菌药耐药严重,呈多重耐药,真菌耐药率尚低.结论加强室内外环境和空气监控,防止交叉感染,侵入性操作要严格无菌操作,在积极治疗原发病的基础上加强支持疗法,增强机体免疫能力,严格掌握抗生素使用原则,根据药敏选用抗生素,避免长期大量联合用药,减少抗生素使用率,从而有效减少院内感染的发生.     

Multiple isolates from aids patients: aspects of an analysis by a genotypic marker and antimicrobial susceptibilities variations

Twenty-one Mycobacterium avium multisolates, from ten human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, were typed by restriction fragment length polymorphism using as marker the IS1245 and characterized by minimum inhibitory concentration for nine different antibiotics. Two out of four patients harboring multisolates with different fingerprint profile, were therefore considered as having a polyclonal infection, since their isolates were taken from sterile site. This result confirms that polyclonal infection caused by M. avium occurs with a nonnegligenciable frequency. Analyzing the multisolates susceptibility profile of each patient it was observed that most of them were infected with strains having appreciably different antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, no matter what the genotypic pattern of the strains was. These results have strong implication for the treatment of the patients.     

Pyocine Typing of Clinical Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A total of 954 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were typed by their ability to produce pyocines. The strains of Pseudomonas were isolated from urines, bloods, sputa, stools, and miscellaneous infectious exudates or tissue of patients of the Mayo Clinic and four associated hospitals. About 80% of the typable strains could be grouped into three major pyocine types: A (30.9%), B (34.8%), and D (14.1%). These large groups could be divided into subtypes by using additional indicator strains. There was no significant difference in the distribution of types by either institutional or specimen source, except that urine specimens yielded the highest percentage of one type. By this procedure, 93% of all isolates could be typed. Repeated typing of serially transferred strains indicated that the procedure has a high degree of reliability. Several strains exhibited extreme fluctuation in inhibition pattern. The procedure is a simple and reliable method to monitor the patterns of nosocomial infections due to P. aeruginosa.     

Epidemiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections investigated by pyocin typing.

All strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated in a large Canadian hospital over a 3-year period were typed by their pyocin production. Smaller collections of P. aeruginosa from other hospitals were also typed. Almost 3000 strains were examined. The typing method did not require use of complex reagents and was successful in subdividing P. aeruginosa into numerous types. No single type was restricted to infections of one particular kind. Infections of all kinds were associated with a wide variety of pyocin types. Extensive crossinfection with one particular pyocin type was observed only in urinary infection of patients with urologic disorders. The four pyocin types that were most frequent in our entire series have been reported as the commonest types causing infections in many other parts of the world.     

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exhibits Frequent Recombination, but Only a Limited Association between Genotype and Ecological Setting

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen and an important cause of infection, particularly amongst cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. While specific strains capable of patient-to-patient transmission are known, many infections appear to be caused by unique and unrelated strains. There is a need to understand the relationship between strains capable of colonising the CF lung and the broader set of P. aeruginosa isolates found in natural environments. Here we report the results of a multilocus sequence typing (MLST)-based study designed to understand the genetic diversity and population structure of an extensive regional sample of P. aeruginosa isolates from South East Queensland, Australia. The analysis is based on 501 P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from environmental, animal and human (CF and non-CF) sources with particular emphasis on isolates from the Lower Brisbane River and isolates from CF patients obtained from the same geographical region. Overall, MLST identified 274 different sequence types, of which 53 were shared between one or more ecological settings. Our analysis revealed a limited association between genotype and environment and evidence of frequent recombination. We also found that genetic diversity of P. aeruginosa in Queensland, Australia was indistinguishable from that of the global P. aeruginosa population. Several CF strains were encountered frequently in multiple ecological settings; however, the most frequently encountered CF strains were confined to CF patients. Overall, our data confirm a non-clonal epidemic structure and indicate that most CF strains are a random sample of the broader P. aeruginosa population. The increased abundance of some CF strains in different geographical regions is a likely product of chance colonisation events followed by adaptation to the CF lung and horizontal transmission among patients.     

不同标本来源铜绿假单胞菌体外耐药性对比研究

目的比较不同部位培养出的铜绿假单胞菌耐药性,为临床控制和治疗铜绿假单胞菌感染提供依据。方法收集住院患者不同标本中分离的铜绿假单胞菌进行鉴定和药敏试验。结果分离率以痰标本中最高,占57.67%;伤口分泌物次之占30.69%。科室分布以ICU（38.1%）、神经外科（15.34%）和烧伤科（14.81%）最多见。同一种抗菌药物对不同标本分离的铜绿假单胞菌显示出不同敏感性,痰标本中铜绿假单胞菌对常用抗菌药物耐药率较伤口分泌物标本中高,除头孢哌酮/舒巴坦、氨苄西林/舒巴坦和复方新诺明外,对其他常用的12种抗菌药物耐药率比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论不同标本分离的铜绿假单胞菌对抗菌药物耐药性存在差异,临床经验用药时应区别对待不同部位铜绿假单胞菌的感染。     

重症监护病房非发酵菌的分布及耐药性分析

目的分析重症监护病房(ICU)非发酵菌感染的临床分布及耐药状况,总结非发酵菌的感染特点,探讨治疗对策。方法采用ATB Expression细菌鉴定及药敏分析系统,对ICU非发酵菌临床分离株进行菌种鉴定及耐药性测定。结果重症监护病房医院感染非发酵菌检出率为45.0%。其中铜绿假单胞菌为最常见(32.1%),其次为鲍氏不动杆菌(27.4%)和嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌(13.3%)。非发酵菌可感染不同部位,其中以呼吸道感染为最常见(75.5%),其次为创面分泌物(8.7%)和引流液(5.5%)。药敏结果显示非发酵菌对替卡西林、庆大霉素、喹诺酮类等多种抗菌药物高度耐药,且多重耐药现象较严重。结论重症监护病房医院感染中非发酵菌分离率高,分布范围广泛且耐药性强,多重耐药现象严重,应引起临床高度重视。     

儿童ICU与普通病房铜绿假单胞菌分布及耐药性分析

目的了解铜绿假单胞菌在儿童重症监护病房（ICU）与普通病房的分布及耐药性差异,为临床合理、有效的治疗提供依据。方法分析重庆医科大学附属儿童医院2013年1月至2013年12月ICU及普通病房铜绿假单胞菌培养阳性患儿的年龄分布、菌株来源、抗菌药物的耐药性。结果 ICU和普通病房分别分离出82株和429株铜绿假单胞菌,年龄均小于2岁（70.73%和69.23%）,以痰标本来源（80.49%和64.80%）为主。ICU分离的铜绿假单胞菌对氟喹诺酮类药物的耐药率低于普通病房,对其余测试药物的耐药率均高于普通病房。ICU分离的铜绿假单胞菌中多重耐药菌55株（67.07%）,泛耐药菌44株（53.66%）,均明显高于普通病房（26.81%,3.26%）（P〈0.05）。结论铜绿假单胞菌是ICU常见的病原菌,具有多重耐药特性,加强耐药性监测,控制医院内感染,对临床医生选用有效的抗生素具有十分重要的意义。     

Typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains from an intensive care unit by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD).

The identification and control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is of primary concern in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. The introduction and circulation of particular strains is best studied by genomic procedures and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) is well suited for this task. In this study 14 isolates of MRSA, obtained over an 8 month period from the blood cultures of 12 patients in an ICU at our hospital, were typed by RAPD method using seven primers. Three separate groups were distinguished and clustering of certain types in time and space was noted. These results suggest that although different strains of MRSA were involved in this outbreak, cross-infection with individual types occurred. RAPD fingerprinting is a relatively simple method that allows epidemiologic investigation of MRSA outbreaks in hospital infection.     

Outbreak of nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia in a high risk ward

Acinetobacter baumannii is emerging as a major cause of nosocomial infections particularly in high risk patients. Being resistant to adverse environmental conditions, it can stay for prolonged periods in the hospital environment. We report an outbreak in the medical oncology ward where nine patients suspected of bacteraemia were blood culture positive forA. baumannii from the two samples each, one collected through the i.v. cannula and another through the peripheral venous puncture. The bacteria was also isolated from the environmental sources from the various samples collected. The biotype, antibiogram, cellular protein profiles on SDS-PAGE and the restriction enzyme analysis patterns of the patient isolates and the environmental isolates were similar. This points to the environment as a source of infection. With reinforcement of proper barrier nursing and use of disposable heparine ampoules it was possible to control the outbreak.     

Comparison of some adhesive properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from respiratory and urinary tract infections

The aim of the paper was the comparison of adhesive properties concerning pathogenic potential of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from the patients with respiratory tract infections and from the patients with urinary tract infections. It was stated that P. aeruginosa strains had no haemagglutinating properties when cultured on a solid medium. Bacteria cultured in a liquid medium showed an increase of these properties in 48 h cultures as compared with 24 h cultures. They were not sensitive to heating. The haemagglutinating properties of the most strains were inhibited by D-mannose. These results seem to suggest that in P. aeruginosa strains fimbriae play an important role in adhesion. On the other hand, the mechanism of adhesion is not uniform as shows mannose-sensitivity of some strains and its lack in the other haemagglutinating strains. The most effective agglutination of human erythrocytes seems to be caused by the species specificity of the individual strains isolated from humans. The higher attachment of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from the urinary tract infections than those from respiratory tract infections to "Vero" cells suggests that these two strains populations may differ in their pathogenic potential to various tissues.     

Environmental Investigations and Molecular Typing of Aspergillus in a Chinese Hospital

Invasive fungal infections due to Aspergillus species have become a major cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients. In order to determine the possible relationship between environmental contamination by Aspergillus and the occurrence of invasive aspergillosis, a 1-year prospective study was carried out in a tertiary hospital in China. Air, surface, and tap water sampling was performed twice monthly at the bone marrow transplant (BMT) department, intensive care unit (ICU), neurosurgery intensive care unit (NICU), and outdoors. Nose, pharynx, and sputum samples were collected from high-risk patients. Isolates of Aspergillus from the environment and patients were genotyped by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay to investigate the origin of infection. Mean total Aspergillus count was 7.73, 8.94, 13.19, and 17.32 cfu/m³ in the BMT department, ICU, NICU, and outdoors, respectively. RAPD analysis by R108 primer demonstrated that strains isolated from patients in NICU were identical to the environmental strain. Strains isolated from patients in ICU differed from the environmental strain. Aspergillus contamination was found in the BTM department, NICU, and ICU. Clinical and environmental strains from NICU had identical genotypes. These findings suggest that Aspergillus is found in the hospital environment including the air, surface, and tap water. The genotypes of Aspergillus were identical from patients and the environment, suggesting that clinical infection may originate from the hospital environment.