Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA typing: a useful tool for rapid epidemiological typing ofKlebsiella pneumoniae

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Discriminatory typing methods are invaluable in the investigation of outbreaks of infectious diseases. Single primers were used to generate randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles fromKlebsiella pneumoniaeisolates of various serotype andK. pneumoniaeisolates from cases of sepsis at a Malaysian hospital and two English hospitals. RAPD profiles of acceptable reproducibility, a maximum of three minor band variations, were produced using a rapid DNA extraction method. RAPD typing ofK. pneumoniaewas shown to be as discriminatory as restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using pulsed field gel electrophoresis yet quicker and less costly. The findings suggest that RAPD typing may be a useful tool for the epidemiological typing ofK. pneumoniae.