Plasm id profile of nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae strainsPlasmid pfofile analysis is useful! in Ihe differentiation of fenotipically similar bacterial slrains. Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of plasmid profile analysis in ihe identification of different K. pneumoniae strains isolated from endemic and ocassional nosocomia! infections. Seventeen K. pneumoniae strains isolated from two separate outbreaks (years 1990 and 1992, twelve ar>d five strains respectively) at a neonatal unit (Carlos Van Buren Hospital, Valparaiso, Chile] and 31 endemic strains obtained along year 1992 from nine different clinical wards within the same hospital were analyzed. Strains were tested for plasmid profile analysis by gel electrophoresis and for antimicrobial susceptibility patterns by the Kirby Bauer method. Plasmid profiles were identical for 1 1 of the 12 strains in outbreak 1 and for all five strains isolated In outbreak 2. Strains belonging to different outbreaks had different plasmid profiles. Twentyfive plasmid profiles were identified among the 31 endemic strains. Plasmid profile analysis allowed the identification of one different strain in outbreak 1 which was not identified by antimicrobial resistance pattern analysis and also of seven similar endemic strains that showed different antimicrobial resistance patterns. Plasmid profile analysis is usefull in epidemiological investigations of nosocomial infections and able to differentiate strains more effectively than the commonly used antimicrobial resistance patterns.
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