Molecular epidemiology of nosocomial invasive Aspergillosis

Abstract

Moderately repeated DNA sequences were used to fingerprint strains of Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from patients with invasive aspergillosis and their hospital environment. Most strains sampled from the environment displayed different Southern blot hybridization patterns. A temporal survey of air contaminants showed that some strains can persist in the same environment for at least 6 months. Patients with invasive aspergillosis were infected by a single strain. In two patients, a nosocomial origin of infection was suggested.