Acinetobacter species in the hospital environment : tracing and epidemiology.

textabstractIn the course of the investigation a new taxonomic classification of Acinetobacter strains was introduced. The groups of this classification were established on the basis of DNA-DNA hybridization data of strains. In a final study of the present thesis, we investigated whether cell envelope protein profiles could be used to identify strains according to this classification of DNA groups. The profiles of 120 strains were determined densitometrically and subjected to numerical analysis. When a restricted part of the protein profile was used in the numerical analysis, a number of protein profile clusters corresponded to specific DNA groups. Thus, this part of the profile, comprising minor bands of relatively high molecular weight, appeared useful for identification of strains to the level of these DNA groups. The remaining part of the protein profile, which comprised major protein bands, seemed to be more useful to distinguish strains of the same DNA group. The latter is important in epidemiological studies. The studies allowed to deduce, that strains of DNA group 2 (A. baumannii) are highly prevalent in infections and nosocomial outbreaks. It is concluded that this group is of particular clinical-epidemiological significance