DNA-BASED IDENTIFICATION AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC TYPING OF BACTERIAL PATHOGENS

Genotypic, or DNA-based, methods have become increasingly applicable f or infectious disease diagnosis and epidemiologic analysis. The abilit y to assess the pathogen's genotype directly bypasses requirements for cultivation and may diminish diagnostic delays with fastidious organi sms. Genotypic typing methods have enhanced epidemiologic studies by p roviding techniques with greater discriminatory ability and smaller pr oportions of nontypeable samples. Hence, these methods enable rigorous studies to be performed regarding the nature of disease outbreaks. Ph enotypic, or conventional, methods with remain important in diagnostic microbiology, especially with organisms that are relatively easy to c ulture. However, genotypic methods may become increasingly prominent i n clinical microbiology laboratories, particularly with respect to dia gnosis of fastidious pathogens, because of their relative speed, versa tility, and lack of cultivation requirements.