TABLE 1.
Comparisons of PFGE patterns obtained in the first and subsequent isolates recovered from 71 long-term MRSA carriers (>1 month)a
| Period (mo.) | No. of pairs | No. indistinguishable | No. relatedb (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | 40 | 39 | 1 (2.5) |
| 3–6 | 19 | 17 | 2 (10.5) |
| 6–12 | 15 | 11 | 4 (26.7) |
| >12 | 10 | 7 | 3 (30) |
| Total | 84 | 74 | 10 (11.9) |
a
In nine carriers, the first isolate was compared to more than one subsequent isolates (two for eight carriers and six for one carrier; the latter carrier had four identical isolates at days 70, 129, 286, and 450 and two different related isolates at days 472 and 517).
b
That is, a 1- to 6-fragment difference.