STAPHYLOCOCCUS-EPIDERMIDIS BIOTYPE-4 - EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CONCLUSIONS FROM 5 DIFFERENT TYPING METHODS

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  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 8  (5) , 376-384
Abstract
There is presently no accepted method for marking individual strains of S. epidermidis. Consequently, 5 parameters for distinguishing such strains were examined and compared for their epidemiological efficacy: biotyping, serotyping, proteinase grouping, aminopeptidase profiles and antibiograms. Biotyping and proteinase grouping were of limited use in identifying a particular strain, although they were helpful in initially categorizing such strains. Antibiograms were least useful because of similarities in susceptibility patterns among isolates. Serotyping and aminopeptidase profiles provided the best means of identifying an individual strain for epidemiological use. The applicability of these typing methods was demonstrated during a 1 yr epidemiological study at a chronic disease hospital.