Presence of polyclonal Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an intensive care unit: a 27-month prospective study on molecular epidemiology

P Cortés; D Mariscal; J Vallés; J Rello; P Coll

doi:10.1086/501853

Presence of polyclonal Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an intensive care unit: a 27-month prospective study on molecular epidemiology

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2001 Nov;22(11):720-3. doi: 10.1086/501853.

Authors

P Cortés¹, D Mariscal, J Vallés, J Rello, P Coll

Affiliation

¹ Department of Microbiology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.

PMID: 11842995
DOI: 10.1086/501853

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in 22.2% of 305 intensive care unit environmental cultures. A high genetic heterogeneity (18 pulsotypes) was evident. Taps and related surfaces were a stable reservoir for certain pulsotypes. The 15.4% of the P. aeruginosa-positive cultures were polyclonal. Different colony morphotypes should be assayed in surveillance studies.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bacterial Typing Techniques
Cross Infection / epidemiology*
Cross Infection / microbiology*
Humans
Intensive Care Units / statistics & numerical data
Prospective Studies
Pseudomonas Infections / epidemiology*
Pseudomonas aeruginosa / classification*
Pseudomonas aeruginosa / isolation & purification*
Spain / epidemiology