Nosocomial Transmission of a Strain of Staphylococcus aureus Causing Toxic Shock Syndrome

  1. BARRY N. KREISWIRTH, Ph.D.;
  2. GARY R. KRAVITZ, M.D.;
  3. PATRICK M. SCHLIEVERT, Ph.D.; and
  4. RICHARD P. NOVICK, M.D.
  1. New York, New York; and Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Abstract

    A strain of Staphylococcus aureus producing toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 was repeatedly isolated from the nares of a neurosurgeon. This strain was identical to strains cultured from two of his patients who developed toxic shock syndrome after laminectomy. The relatedness of the isolates was shown by Southern blot hybridization analyses using chromosomal transposons as probes. This approach should be considered, in addition to standard bacteriologic techniques, as an effective method to analyze the relatedness of nosocomial isolates.

    Article and Author Information

    • ▸From the Public Health Research Institute of the City of New York, New York, New York; and the Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    • ▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Barry Kreiswirth, Ph.D., Public Health Research Institute, 455 First Avenue; New York, NY 10016.

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    1. Ann Intern Med November 1, 1986 vol. 105 no. 5 704-707
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