Use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of aacA genes encoding aminoglycoside-6'-N-acetyltransferases in reference strains and Gram-negative clinical isolates from two Belgium hospitals

Genes encoding aminoglycoside 6′- N -acetyltransferases, were identified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Four sets of primers delineating DNA fragments of 209 bp, 250 bp, 260 bp and 347 bp, specific for the four known aacA genes, and probes within these fragments, were constructed based on the nucleotide sequences of the aacA genes. The specificity of the primers was evaluated using reference strains encoding various aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes. The primers reacted with their corresponding aacA genes and did not cross-react with genes coding for other aminoglycoside-modifying e... Mehr ...