Use of ribotyping to investigate tracheal colonisation byStaphylococcus epidermidis as a source of bacteremia in ventilated newborns

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Abstract
Ribotyping was used to determine whether a relationship exists between endotracheal tube colonisation withStaphylococcus epidermidis and bacteremia with this organism. Over a three-week period, four mechanically ventilated preterm babie s presented with five episodes of infection and bacteremia. For each blood specimen obtained for culture a tracheal aspirate sample was collected at the same time by suctioning. After DNA extraction and cleavage byEcoRI, hybridisation was performed with a digoxigeninlabelled 16S-rDNA probe fromEscherichia coli. Five different band patterns were recognised on the membrane. In two children the same band pattern was found inStaphylococcus epidermidis isolated from both blood and tracheal aspirate. Ribotyping thus could be used to differentiate a series of infections from an outbreak and showed that a relationship may exist between tracheal colonisation and bacteremia in mechanically ventilated newborns.