[Detection of molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium gordonae isolates].

Objects: To analyze the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium gordonae strains from patients and environments in the hospital.

Subjects: A total of 46 clinical strains were obtained from patients registered at the NHO Kinki-chuo Chest Medical Center and 3 strains from hospital environments.

Methods: By using genetic data from the 16S rRNA gene and hsp65PRA, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) assessment of their intraspecies variability and epidemiology was carried out.

Results: Strains from six patients and environmental cultures exhibited the different genotypes of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the hsp65PRA type. The PFGE analysis suggested no pseudo-outbreak and showed a polyclonal infection in one patient.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that we should maintain effective surveillance of environments in the hospital and continuously perform molecular epidemiological investigations for infection control of M. gordonae.