Surveillance of nosocomial transmission of Candida albicans in an intensive care unit by DNA fingerprinting

Taylor, BN, Harrer, T, Pscheidl, E, Schweizer, AS, Roellinghoff, M, and Schroeppel, K (2003) Surveillance of nosocomial transmission of Candida albicans in an intensive care unit by DNA fingerprinting. Journal of hospital infection, 55 (4). pp. 283-289.

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Abstract

The frequency of nosocomial transmission of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans in an intensive care unit was tested by DNA fingerprinting of 91 isolates from 32 hospitalized patients with the mid-repetitive Ca3 DNA probe. This showed that serial isolates of C. albicans from individual patients belonged to genetically distinct strains. In comparison with nosocomial bacterial pathogens, the transmission of C. albicans in an intensive care unit occurred at a much lower frequency. In conclusion, the threat of C. albicans infection does not lie within the hospital, but in commensal isolates. These findings are relevant for infection control practices.

Item ID: 520
Item Type: Article (UNSPECIFIED)
ISSN: 0195-6701
Keywords: Candida albicans, DNA fingerprinting, Nosocomial transmission
Additional Information:

© 2003 Elsevier : This journal is available online - use hypertext links above.

Date Deposited: 03 Oct 2006
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111706 Epidemiology @ 0%
11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1103 Clinical Sciences > 110309 Infectious Diseases @ 0%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0605 Microbiology > 060503 Microbial Genetics @ 0%
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