ERIC-PCR TYPING PROFILES OF ENTEROBACTER-CLOACAE ARE STABLE AFTER DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED CEPHALOSPORIN RESISTANCE

Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) sequence polyme rase chain reaction genotype profiles of Enterobacter cloacae were pre pared for paired isolates which were obtained before and after the hig h level expression of the chromosomal cephalosporinase. These profiles were homologous within strain pairs which suggests that the acquired resistance does not lead to major chromosomal alterations. ERIC genoty pes are therefore reliable markers in epidemiological investigations w here antibiogram modifications may arise as a consequence of antibioti c exposure and beta-lactamase over-production. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien ce B.V.