The discriminatory power of ribo-PCR compared to conventional ribotyping for epidemiological purposes

Molecular typing techniques have become increasingly important for confirma tion of epidemiological relationships and delimitation of nosocomial outbre aks. The discriminatory power of the two DNA-based typing methods, conventi onal ribotyping and ribo-PCR, was assessed to distinguish between selected strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marc escens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Overall, conventional ribotyping was mor e discriminatory than ribo-PCR.