Molecular epidemiology of invasive aspergillosis: lessons learned from an outbreak investigation in an Australian hematology unit

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2009 Dec;30(12):1223-6. doi: 10.1086/648452.

Abstract

Suspected nosocomial Aspergillus fumigatus infections in an Australian hematology unit were investigated by molecular typing of clinical and environmental isolates using polymerase chain reaction fingerprinting, CSP typing, and multilocus microsatellite typing. Only multilocus microsatellite typing revealed that all isolates were genetically distinct. The selection of an appropriate typing method is essential for effective outbreak investigations.

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus fumigatus / genetics*
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / genetics*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • DNA Fingerprinting
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Genotype
  • Hematology
  • Hospital Units
  • Humans
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis / epidemiology*
  • Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis / microbiology
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction