ISMJ

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the main etiological agents in burn infections which could be life threatening for the infected patients. The aim of the present study was to identify and track source of infections using two molecular typing methods.

Materials and Methods: Seventy-four strains of P. aeruginosa were isolated from burn patients and hospital environment in Ghotbadden Burn Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. Isolates were typed by arbitrary primed-polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) and plasmid profiling. Similarity and clustering of the strains was assessed using NTSYS-PC software and photo Capt Mw program.

Results: Thirty eight plasmid profiles were obtained and classified them into: 2, 3and 5 clusters, based on 50%, 64.7% and 67.5% similarity on the plotted dendrogram, respectively. Drawn dendrogarm categorized AP-PCR products to 47 different types.

Conclusion: Based on these results, a limited number of P. aeruginosa types are predominant in the hospitals which infect the burn patients. To control of the infections in patients with antibiotics, resistant isolates, strong disinfection of patients’ bathroom after scrubbing of patients wounds, should be implemented.