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Lookup NU author(s): Andrew Barrett, Professor John Magee, Dr Stephen Bourke
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Aim-To investigate a possible outbreak of tuberculosis in a hostel for homeless men using IS6110 profiling, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based fingerprinting technique. Methods-Eight cases of tuberculosis were diagnosed in residents of the hostel over a period of 28 months. To provide epidemiological data, a heminested inverse PCR (HIP) assay targeting the insertion sequence IS6110 together with its upstream flanking region was used to fingerprint the eight isolates of XI tuberculosis under investigation. Results-The HIP technique gave IS6110 profiles which showed that while three isolates were clearly distinct, the remaining five strains were indistinguishable, suggesting the latter were representatives of a single outbreak strain. Conclusions-The HIP assay proved discriminatory and facilitated repeated testing for the direct comparison of strains as more patients presented over the protracted course of this outbreak.
Author(s): Kearns AM, Barrett A, Marshall C, Freeman R, Magee JG, Bourke SJ, Steward M
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Clinical Pathology
Year: 2000
Volume: 53
Issue: 2
Pages: 122-124
ISSN (print): 0021-9746
ISSN (electronic): 1472-4146
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jcp.53.2.122
DOI: 10.1136/jcp.53.2.122
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