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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2003, p. 4134-4140, Vol. 41, No. 9
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.9.4134-4140.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Ribosomal DNA Sequencing for Identification of Aerobic Gram-Positive Rods in the Clinical Laboratory (an 18-Month Evaluation)

P. P. Bosshard,* S. Abels, R. Zbinden, E. C. Böttger, and M. Altwegg

Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zürich, 8028 Zürich, Switzerland

Received 20 March 2003/ Returned for modification 2 June 2003/ Accepted 25 June 2003

We have evaluated over a period of 18 months the use of 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence analysis as a means of identifying aerobic gram-positive rods in the clinical laboratory. Two collections of strains were studied: (i) 37 clinical strains of gram-positive rods well identified by phenotypic tests, and (ii) 136 clinical isolates difficult to identify by standard microbiological investigations, i.e., identification at the species level was impossible. Results of molecular analyses were compared with those of conventional phenotypic identification procedures. Good overall agreement between phenotypic and molecular identification procedures was found for the collection of 37 clinical strains well identified by conventional means. For the 136 clinical strains which were difficult to identify by standard microbiological investigations, phenotypic characterization identified 71 of 136 (52.2%) isolates at the genus level; 65 of 136 (47.8%) isolates could not be discriminated at any taxonomic level. In comparison, 16S rDNA sequencing identified 89 of 136 (65.4%) isolates at the species level, 43 of 136 (31.6%) isolates at the genus level, and 4 of 136 (2.9%) isolates at the family level. We conclude that (i) rDNA sequencing is an effective means for the identification of aerobic gram-positive rods which are difficult to identify by conventional techniques, and (ii) molecular identification procedures are not required for isolates well identified by phenotypic investigations.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zürich, Gloriastrasse 30, CH-8028 Zürich, Switzerland. Phone: 41 1 634 27 00. Fax: 41 1 634 49 06. E-mail: philboss{at}immv.unizh.ch.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2003, p. 4134-4140, Vol. 41, No. 9
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.9.4134-4140.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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