This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Pancholi, P.
Right arrow Articles by Latta, P. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Pancholi, P.
Right arrow Articles by Latta, P. D.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2005, p. 5202-5207, Vol. 43, No. 10
0095-1137/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.43.10.5202-5207.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

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

Preeti Pancholi,1* Mimi Healy,2 Tracy Bittner,2 Renee Webb,2 Fan Wu,1 Allison Aiello,3 Elaine Larson,4 and Phyllis Della Latta1

Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York,1 Spectral Genomics, Inc., Houston, Texas,2 Center for Social Epidemiology & Population Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan,3 Department of Epidemiology, Joseph Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University School of Nursing, and College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York4

Received 5 April 2005/ Returned for modification 16 June 2005/ Accepted 7 July 2005

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.


* Corresponding author. Mailing address: University Hospital East, 3N, 1492 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43205. Phone: (614) 257-3488. Fax: (614) 257-2405. E-mail: pd23{at}columbia.edu.


Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2005, p. 5202-5207, Vol. 43, No. 10
0095-1137/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.43.10.5202-5207.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.




This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Lowman, W., Kalk, T., Menezes, C. N., John, M. A., Grobusch, M. P. (2008). A case of community-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii meningitis - has the threat moved beyond the hospital?. J Med Microbiol 57: 676-678 [Abstract] [Full Text]