[Restriction fragment length polymorphism of coagulase gene of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus can be used as an epidemiological marker].

: In order to see the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of coagulase gene of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the type of coagulase, a total of 118 strains of MRSA from 1986 to 1994 was collected from the Akita University Hospital, six hospitals in Akita Prefecture and a hospital in Aomori Prefecture. The RFLP analysis using the Alu I restriction enzyme brought us four kinds of electrophoretic patterns (A, B, C, D). Patterns A (87%) and B (13%) were detected in our hospital and only pattern A was detected in other hospitals in Akita. On the other hand, Patterns A (68%), B (26%), C (3%) and D (3%) were detected in Aomori. In coagulase type analysis, all strains in Akita showed type II, and the strains in Aomori also showed type II except for one strain (type IV). From the above results, the polymorphism of coagulase gene of MRSA can be useful as an epidemiological marker to examine the extent of MRSA infection in a prefecture unit or in a larger area.