Development of a Multi-Locus Sequence Typing System for Medically Relevant Bipolaris Species.

Pham CD1, Purfield AE1, Fader R2, Pascoe N3, Lockhart SR4.

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Abstract

Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) is the 'gold standard' genotyping technique for many microorganisms. This classification approach satisfies the requirements for a high-resolution, standardized, and archivable taxonomic system. Here, we describe the development of a novel MLST system to assist with the investigation of an unusual cluster of surgical site infections caused by Bipolaris spp. in post-operative cardiothoracic surgery (POCS) patients during January, 2008 [sbond]December, 2013 in the southeastern US. We also used the same MLST system to perform retrospective analysis on isolates from a 2012 Bipolaris endophthalmitis outbreak caused by a contaminated product. This MLST system showed high intraspecies discriminatory power for B. spicifera, B. hawaiiensis, and B. australiensis. Based on relatedness of the isolates, the MLST data supported the hypothesis that infections in the POCS cluster were from different environmental sources while confirming the endophthalmitis outbreak resulted from a point-source, which was a contaminated medication.