Molecular Characterization of Hand Flora and Environmental Isolates in a Community Setting

Citation

Pancholi, Preeti; Healy, Mimi; Bittner, Tracy; Webb, Renee; Wu, Fan; Aiello, Allison E.; Larson, Elaine L.; & Latta, Phyllis Della (2005). Molecular Characterization of Hand Flora and Environmental Isolates in a Community Setting. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 43(10), 5202-5207. PMCID: PMC1248454

Abstract

We analyzed 69 bacterial isolates, comprising seven species of gram-negative bacterial rods and three species of coagulase-negative staphylococci, recovered from both the hands of caretakers and their environment in households sampled in upper Manhattan. Repetitive sequence-based PCR and dendrogram analysis were used to determine strain similarity. Greater than 25% of individual species of Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, and coagulase-negative staphylococci recovered from the hands and immediate environment within each household shared the same genotype. This study is the first to demonstrate the frequency of bacteria shared within community households. These strains may serve as potential reservoirs for either community- or hospital-acquired infections.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jcm.43.10.5202-5207.2005

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2005

Journal Title

Journal of Clinical Microbiology

Author(s)

Pancholi, Preeti
Healy, Mimi
Bittner, Tracy
Webb, Renee
Wu, Fan
Aiello, Allison E.
Larson, Elaine L.
Latta, Phyllis Della

PMCID

PMC1248454

ORCiD

Aiello - 0000-0001-7029-2537