[Emergence of Enterobacter aerogenes strains producing derepressed cephalosporinase at CHU in Limoges: molecular epidemiology by the RAPD technique].

From the beginning of the year 1996, an increase of multiresistant Enterobacter aerogenes isolates was observed. These strains overproduced their chromosomally cephalosporinase. From February to September 1996, we studied the genotypic diversity of multiresistant E. aerogenes isolates. Fifty-seven strains were analysed with the RAPD technique. These strains were isolated from 38 patients in 25 different units. These isolates were collected from urines (37), respiratory tracts (14) and wounds (6). We have observed two distinct profiles. The predominant profile (A) was recovered from 55 strains (36 patients) and the second profile (B) from 2 strains (2 patients). The clonal relatedness of strains isolated (profile A) showed an epidemic spread in our hospital. The RAPD technique is easy to perform and gives results in less than 48 h with a good discriminatory power.