       Document 0832
 DOCN  M95A0832
 TI    Evaluation of the relatedness of strains of Mycobacterium avium using
       pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.
 DT    9510
 AU    Burki DR; Bernasconi C; Bodmer T; Telenti A; Institute for Medical
       Microbiology, University of Berne,; Switzerland.
 SO    Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1995 Mar;14(3):212-7. Unique Identifier
       : AIDSLINE MED/95339844
 AB    The application of molecular techniques to investigate strain
       relatedness may help define the local epidemiology of Mycobacterium
       avium infection, and, by identifying false isolates (i.e. neither
       pathogens nor colonizers) resulting from contamination, may serve as a
       tool for quality control in the laboratory. For this purpose, isolates
       from all patients (n = 129) with Mycobacterium avium infections
       identified over a two-year period were investigated by pulsed-field gel
       electrophoresis (PFGE). Of 38 PFGE patterns identified, 34 corresponded
       to unique strains or to isolates present in no more than two or three
       individuals. One prevalent strain was identified among HIV-infected
       patients and three patterns were related to culture contamination
       events. PFGE (i) established the diversity of Mycobacterium avium
       strains in a community; (ii) identified the existence of a unique strain
       that may account for one-fifth of Mycobacterium avium isolated from
       HIV-infected patients locally; (iii) documented the extent and
       resolution of a suspected pseudo-outbreak; and (iv) uncovered an
       additional-unsuspected contamination event.
 DE    AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY
       Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field  Epidemiology, Molecular  Human
       Mycobacterium avium/CLASSIFICATION/*ISOLATION & PURIF  Mycobacterium
       Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY  Sensitivity and Specificity
       Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

