EMERGENCE AT THE LIMOGES-TEACHING-HOSPITA L OF ENTEROBACTER-AEROGENESSTRAINS PRODUCING A DEREPRESSED CEPHALOSPORINASE - MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY USING THE RAPD TECHNIQUE

From the begining of the year 1996, an increase of multiresistant Ente robacter aerogenes isolates was observed. These strains overproduced t heir chromosomally cephalosporinase. From February to September 1996, we studied the genotypic diversity of multiresistant E. aerogenes isol ates. Fifty-seven strains were analysed with the RAPD technique. These strains were isolated from 38 patients in 25 different units. These i solates were collected from urines (37), respiratory tracts (14) and w ounds (6). We have observed two distinct profiles. The predominant pro file (A) was recovered from 55 strains (36 patients) and the second pr ofile (B) from 2 strains (2 patients). The clonal relatedness of strai ns isolated (profile A) showed an epidemic spread in our hospital. The RAPD technique is easy to perform and gives results in less than 48 h with a good discriminatory power.