Typing with PFGE is well suited for detailed investigations of colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis patients. Pyocin typing can provide additional information for epidemiologic purposes.

These data show routes of dissemination of resistance to multiple antibiotics including streptogramins and glycopeptides in E. faecium via vertical and/or horizontal gene transfer. The isolates spread in the absence of a direct selective pressure, as none of the patients had received earlier streptogramin or glycopeptide therapy.

This survey shows that PCR and PFGE are comparable in respect to the discrimination and reproducibility for epidemiological studies of S. marcescens strains in nosocomial outbreaks. Genotypic fingerprinting of bacterial isolates is useful and important to limit nosocomial infections. Fingerprinting sources of nosocomial infections can be traced both by PFGE and PCR. All patients infected recovered completely and the nosocomial outbreak could be stopped rapidly.

A trend towards an increase of the MICs against antipseudomonal agents was observed over a limited period of time. It is necessary to prevent this development possibly by employing suitable combinations of antibiotics and the introduction of new substances.

We report on an 8-year-old Haemophilus influenzae type b-vaccinated girl with meningitis due to H. influenzae type f. The girl had an oro-facio-digital syndrome and a hypogammaglobulinemia, obviously predisposing the patient to invasive infections. Treatment with cefotaxime was successful.Incidence, predisposing factors and the influence of H. influenzae type b immunization on invasive infections with non-type b H. influenzae strains in children are discussed.