Rapid microprocedure for extraction of plasmid DNA from Staphylococcus aureus.

A rapid micromethod for extraction of plasmid DNA from Staphylococcus aureus in quantities sufficient for restriction endonuclease analysis was developed. The method of "fingerprinting" is useful for identification of epidemic strains in the clinical setting and is more reliable than frequently used determinations of plasmid molecular weight, particularly when small numbers of plasmids are involved.