Molecular characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates presenting various drug susceptibility from Greece using three DNA typing methods.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was the molecular characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates using three DNA typing methods.

Methods: One hundred nineteen independent (77 susceptible to all antituberculous drugs, 17 rifampin-resistant and 25 isoniazid-resistant), and nine related Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates obtained over a 3-years period (1997-1999) from Greece were typed with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), using the non-radioactive IS6110 probe (IS6110-RFLP), and two PCR-based molecular methods: random amplification of polymorphic domains (RAPD) using four different primers and double repetitive element-PCR (DRE-PCR).

Results: IS6110-RFLP and RAPD-PCR using IRIS primer were proved to be the most discriminatory methods, while DRE-PCR gave satisfactory results and RAPD-PCR methods using the other three primers (A1245, B1245 and Leg2) were not so effective.

Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli spirochetemia in an immunocompromised patient.

The case of an elderly immunocompromised man with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who presented with fever, abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea is described. Brachyspira pilosicoli was isolated from culture. The patient was treated with penicillin G i.

Molecular typing of Candida isolates from patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit.

Objectives: The aim of our study was the molecular typing of 40 clinical isolates of Candida spp. obtained from patients with burns or trauma hospitalized in the intensive care unit of a general hospital.

Methods: Isolates were recovered from blood, deep trauma, urine, sputum or from environment within a short period of time (4 months).