Plasmid Profiles of Acinetobacter and Enterobacter Species of Hospital Origin: Restriction Endonuclease Analysis of Plasmid DNA and Transformation of Escherichia coli by R Plasmids

This work has been presented in part (5 th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, September 9-11, 1991, Oslo, Norway).

Summary

A total of 37 multi-resistant strains (20 Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and 17 Enterobacter cloacae) were isolated from patients of the Intensive Care Units. All the isolates were examined for resistance to a battery of antimicrobial agents by the disk diffusion method. Plasmid profiles and restriction endonouclease analysis of plasmid DNA by EcoR1 revealed the spread of one A. calcoaceticus and two E. cloacae endemic strains. Transformation experiments on Escherichia coli competent cells by three plasmids established the presence of R plasmids in the multi-resistant isolates.

Key Words:

• Nosocomial infections
• plasmid profiles of gram-negative bacteria
• intergeneric spread of R plasmids

Notes

This work has been presented in part (5 th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, September 9-11, 1991, Oslo, Norway).