Frequency and Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Genes of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci from Wild Birds in Spain. Detection of tst-Carrying S. sciuri Isolates

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and diversity of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) species from wild birds in Spain, as well as to analyze the antimicrobial resistance phenotype/genotype and the virulence gene content. During 2015–2016, tracheal samples of 242 wild birds were collected in different regions of Spain for staphylococci recovery. The species identification was performed using MALDI-TOF. The antimicrobial resistance phenotype and genotype was investigated by the disk diffusion method and by PCR, respectively. The presence of the virulence genes lukF/S-PV, tst, eta, etb, etd and scn was investigated by PCR. Moreover, CoNS carrying the mecA gene were subjected to SCCmec typing. Of the tested animals, 60% were CoNS-carriers, and 173 CoNS isolates were recovered from the 146 positive animals, which belonged to 11 species, with predominance of S. sciuri (n = 118) and S. lentus (n = 25). A total of 34% of CoNS isolates showed a multidrug resistance phenotype, and 42 mecA-positive methicillin-resistant CoNS (MRCoNS) were detected. The isolates showed resistance to the following antimicrobials (percentage of resistant isolates/antimicrobial resistance genes detected): penicillin (49/ blaZ, mecA), cefoxitin (24/ mecA), erythromycin and/or clindamycin (92/ erm(B), erm(C), erm(43), msr(A), mph(C), lnu(A), lsa(B), vga(A) and sal(A)), gentamicin and/or tobramycin (5/ aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2″)-Ia, ant(4′)-Ia), streptomycin (12/str), tetracycline (17/ tet(K), tet(L), tet(M)), ciprofloxacin (4), chloramphenicol (1/ fexA), fusidic acid (86/ fusB, fusD) and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (1/ dfrK). None of the isolates harbored the lukF/S-PV, eta, etb, etd and scn genes, but two S. sciuri isolates (1%) carried the tst gene. Wild birds are frequently colonized by CoNS species, especially S. sciuri. We identified scavenging on intensively produced livestock and feeding on landfills as risk factors for CoNS carriage. High proportions of MRCoNS and multidrug resistant CoNS were detected, which coupled with the presence of important virulence genes is of concern.

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Staphylococci among Wild European Rabbits from the Azores: A Potential Zoonotic Issue?

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-19-423 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 83 (7) ◽

pp. 1110-1114 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

MARGARIDA SOUSA ◽

VANESSA SILVA ◽

ADRIANA SILVA ◽

NUNO SILVA ◽

JESSICA RIBEIRO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Resistance Genes ◽

Meca Gene ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Spa Typing ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

Genetic Lineages ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes ◽

European Rabbits

ABSTRACT The prevalence and diversity of Staphylococcus species from wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the Azores were investigated, and the antibiotic resistance phenotype and genotype of the isolates were determined. Nasal samples from 77 wild European rabbits from São Jorge and São Miguel islands in Azores were examined. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors was determined by PCR. The genetic lineages of S. aureus isolates were characterized by spa typing and multilocus sequence typing. A total of 49 staphylococci were obtained from 35 of the 77 wild rabbits. Both coagulase-positive (8.2%) and coagulase-negative (91.8%) staphylococci were detected: 4 S. aureus, 17 S. fleurettii, 13 S. sciuri, 7 S. xylosus, 4 S. epidermidis, and 1 each of S. simulans, S. saprophyticus, S. succinus, and S. equorum. The four S. aureus isolates showed methicillin susceptibility and were characterized as spa type t272/CC121, Panton-Valentine leukocidin negative, and hlB positive. Most of the coagulase-negative staphylococci showed resistance to fusidic acid and beta-lactams, and multidrug resistance was identified especially among S. epidermidis isolates. The mecA gene was detected in 20 isolates of the species S. fleurettii and S. epidermidis, associated with the blaZ gene in one S. epidermidis isolate. Five antimicrobial resistance genes were detected in one S. epidermidis isolate (mecA,dfrA,dfrG,aac6′-aph2′′, and ant4). Our results highlight that wild rabbits are reservoirs or “temporary hosts” of Staphylococcus species with zoonotic potential, some of them carrying relevant antimicrobial resistances. HIGHLIGHTS

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Virulence and Resistance Determinants of German Staphylococcus aureus ST398 Isolates from Nonhuman Sources

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02260-10 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 77 (9) ◽

pp. 3052-3060 ◽

Cited By ~ 142

Author(s):

M. A. Argudín ◽

B.-A. Tenhagen ◽

A. Fetsch ◽

J. Sachsenröder ◽

A. Käsbohrer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Accessory Gene ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

Content Type ◽

Resistance Determinants ◽

Accessory Gene Regulator ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

ABSTRACTA series of 100Staphylococcus aureusisolates ascribed to sequence type 398 (ST398) and recovered from different sources (healthy carrier and diseased pigs, dust from pig farms, milk, and meat) in Germany were investigated for their virulence and antimicrobial resistance genetic background. Antimicrobial resistance was determined by the disk diffusion method. Virulence and resistance determinants (37 and 31 genes, respectively) were tested by PCR. Only two virulence profiles, including the accessory gene regulatoragrIand three or four hemolysin-encoding genes, were detected. In contrast, 33 resistance profiles were distinguished (only 11 were shown by more than one isolate). Fifty-nine isolates were multiresistant (four or more antimicrobial classes), and 98 were methicillin resistant (mecApositive). All of the ST398 isolates showed resistance to tetracycline [encoded bytet(M) alone or together withtet(K) and/ortet(L)]. In addition, 98% were resistant to other antimicrobials, including macrolide-lincosamine-streptogramin B (70%, encoded byermA,ermB, andermC, alone or in combination), trimethoprim (65%, mostly due todfrKanddfrG), kanamycin and gentamicin [29% and 14%, respectively, mainly related toaac(6′)-Ie-aph(2″)-Iaand/orant(4′)-Iabut also toaph(3′)-IIIa], chloramphenicol (9%,fexAorcfr), quinupristin-dalfopristin (9%), ciprofloxacin (8%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (4%). The heterogeneity of the resistance profiles underlines the ability of the ST398 clone to acquire multiple antimicrobial resistance genes. However, the virulence gene content of the tested isolates was low. Continuous surveillance is needed to clarify whether its pathogenicity potential for animals and humans will increase over time.

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Molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes of Escherichia coli isolates from bovine mastitis

Veterinary World ◽

10.14202/vetworld.2020.1588-1593 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1588-1593

Author(s):

Zuhair Bani Ismail ◽

Sameeh M. Abutarbush

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Bovine Mastitis ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

E Coli ◽

Procaine Penicillin

Background and Aim: Mastitis is a common and economically important disease in dairy cattle. It remains one of the most common reasons for the extensive use of antimicrobials in dairy farms leading to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolates from bovine mastitis and to identify prominent antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes among isolated strains. Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing against six antibiotic groups, including tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, macrolides, sulfonamides, and fluoroquinolones was performed using the disk diffusion method. PCR was performed on resistant isolates to detect resistance and virulence genes using commercially available primers. Results: Out of 216 milk samples cultured, 14 samples yielded E. coli isolates. All isolates (100%) were resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin, procaine penicillin, streptomycin, oxytetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Only one isolate (7%) was sensitive to gentamicin, and all isolates (100%) were sensitive to enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. All isolates carried at least one resistance gene against one or more of the major antibiotic groups. All isolates carried the ereA, tetG, tetE, and tetB genes, followed by tetA (93%), ampC (86%), strA (86%), sul1 (78%), tetD (71%), tetC (57%), aadA (57%), and strB (36%). The lowest percentage of isolates carried bla1 (17%) and bla2 (12%) genes, and none of the isolates carried the qnrA gene. Most of the isolates (93%) carried the Shiga toxin 1 virulence gene, followed by complement resistance protein (79%), intimin (64%), Shiga toxin 2 (36%), cytotoxic necrotizing factor (35%), aerotaxis receptor (21%), and type 1 fimbriae (15%). Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that the high percentages of E. coli isolate from bovine mastitis are resistant to two or more of the major antibiotic groups, irrespective of the presence or absence of relevant resistance or virulence genes.

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Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Epidemiology of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated From Female Patients in Shanghai, China

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fcimb.2021.653983 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Qian Zeng ◽

Shuzhen Xiao ◽

Feifei Gu ◽

Weiping He ◽

Qing Xie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Molecular Epidemiology ◽

Bacterial Infections ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Phylogenetic Group ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

Female Patients ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections and UTI is the most common extraintestinal infectious disease entity in women worldwide. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the leading cause of UTI. While antimicrobial resistance has emerged as one of the principal problems of UTI, little is known about the epidemiology of UPEC isolated from female patients in Shanghai. This study aimed to describe the antimicrobial resistance and molecular epidemiology of UPEC isolated from female patients in Shanghai, China. UPEC isolates were collected from female patients from July 2019 to June 2020 in Shanghai and a total of 151 isolates were obtained randomly. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method. Multilocus sequencing type, phylogenetic groups, antimicrobial resistance genes, and virulence genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction. In our study, no carbapenem-resistant isolates were found, but fluoroquinolone-resistant and multi-drug resistant UPEC accounted for 62.25% and 42.38%, respectively. The phylogenetic group B2 (58.94%) predominated, followed by phylogenetic group D (26.49%). The most prevalent sequence type was ST1193 (25.83%), which was first reported in Shanghai. The rate of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-positive isolates was 39.74% and the dominant ESBL genotype was blaCTX-M-14 (21/60), followed by blaCTX-M-55 (12/60). Mutations in gyrA were detected in the majority of fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates (90/94), followed by parC (85/94) and parE (71/94). The aac (3) -IIa was also found in 85% of aminoglycoside resistance isolates. Among 151 UPEC isolates, the common virulence genes were csgA (97.35%), fimH (92.72%), sitA (82.12%), and malX (65.56%). In conclusion, the high antimicrobial resistance of UPEC isolated from female patients, harboring a series of virulence genes, are troublesome for medical practitioners in Shanghai. At present, the prevalent ST1193 and emerging blaCTX-M-55 make UTI therapy more challenging.

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Isolation and antimicrobial resistance of coagulase-negative staphylococci recovered from healthy tortoises in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/0103-8478cr20210354 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 52 (7) ◽

Author(s):

Jordana Almeida Santana ◽

Brendhal Almeida Silva ◽

Nathalia Abreu Borges Trevizani ◽

Angélica Maria Araújo e Souza ◽

Grécia Mikhaela Nunes de Lima ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Methicillin Resistance ◽

Meca Gene ◽

Companion Animals ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Mannitol Salt Agar ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

ABSTRACT: In the last few decades, there has been a global increase in the adoption of reptiles as companion animals, mainly turtles and tortoises. Considering the popularity of reptiles as pets in Brazil, and a notable lack of data about potentially pathogenic staphylococci in these animals, this study isolated and evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of staphylococcal species from healthy tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonaria) in Brazil. During a 12-month period (February 2019 to February 2020), cloacal swabs from 66 healthy tortoises were collected at the Wild Animals Screening Center in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The swabs were plated onto mannitol salt agar for staphylococci isolation, and species identification was performed using MALDI-TOF MS. Antimicrobial susceptibility was investigated using the disk diffusion method, and the presence of the mecA gene was investigated by PCR to detect methicillin resistance. Of the tested animals, 72.7% were positive for staphylococcal isolation. All isolates were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), and Staphylococcus sciuri (81.3%), and S. xylosus (12.5%) were the most frequently isolated species. The majority of the isolates (56%) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. A high frequency of resistance was observed for penicillin (35.5%) and tetracycline (29.1 %). All strains were susceptible to cefoxitin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and gentamicin. All isolates were negative for the mecA gene. The present work suggests that healthy tortoises are mainly colonized by CoNS, especially S. sciuri. Half of the isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, raising questions regarding the possible role of these animals as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes.

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Prevalence of Virulence Genes and Drug Resistance Profiles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated From Clinical Specimens

Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.5812/jjm.118452 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (8) ◽

Author(s):

Seyed Ali Bazghandi ◽

Mohsen Arzanlou ◽

Hadi Peeridogaheh ◽

Hamid Vaez ◽

Amirhossein Sahebkar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽

Drug Resistance ◽

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Clinical Isolates ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

Clinical Specimens ◽

Resistance Rates

Background: Drug resistance and virulence genes are two key factors for the colonization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in settings with high antibiotic pressure, such as hospitals, and the development of hospital-acquired infections. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of drug resistance and virulence gene profiles in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa in Ardabil, Iran. Methods: A total of 84 P. aeruginosa isolates were collected from clinical specimens of Ardabil hospitals and confirmed using laboratory standard tests. The disk diffusion method was used for antibiotic susceptibility testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the identification of P. aeruginosa virulence genes. Results: The highest and the lowest antibiotic resistance rates of P. aeruginosa strains were against ticarcillin-clavulanate (94%) and doripenem (33.3%), respectively. In addition, the frequency of multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa was 55.9%. The prevalence of virulence factor genes was as follows: algD 84.5%, lasB 86.9%, plcH 86.9%, plcN 86.9%, exoU 56%, exoS 51.2%, toxA 81%, nan1 13.1%, and pilB 33.3%. A significant association was observed between resistance to some antibiotics and the prevalence of virulence genes in P. aeruginosa. Conclusions: Our results revealed a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance, especially MDR, and virulence-associated genes in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa in Ardabil hospitals. Owing to the low resistance rates against doripenem, gentamicin, and tobramycin, these antibiotics are recommended for the treatment of infections caused by highly resistant and virulent P. aeruginosa strains.

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Molecular characterisation of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits in Tunisia

World Rabbit Science ◽

10.4995/wrs.2020.10879 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 81

Author(s):

Raouia Ben Rhouma ◽

Ahlem Jouini ◽

Amira Klibi ◽

Safa Hamrouni ◽

Aziza Boubaker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Class 1 Integron ◽

E Coli ◽

Class 1

The purpose of this study was to identify Escherichia coli isolates in diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits in Tunisia and characterise their virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. In the 2014-2015 period, 60 faecal samples from diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits were collected from different breeding farms in Tunisia. Susceptibility to 14 antimicrobial agents was tested by disc diffusion method and the mechanisms of gene resistance were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing methods. Forty E. coli isolates were recovered in selective media. High frequency of resistance to tetracycline (95%) was detected, followed by different levels of resistance to sulphonamide (72.5%), streptomycin (62.5%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (60%), nalidixic acid (32.5%), ampicillin (37.5%) and ticarcillin (35%). E. coli strains were susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftazidime and imipenem. Different variants of blaTEM, tet, sul genes were detected in most of the strains resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline and sulphonamide, respectively. The presence of class 1 integron was studied in 29 sulphonamide-resistant E. coli strains from which 15 harboured class 1 integron with four different arrangements of gene cassettes, dfrA17+aadA5 (n=9), dfrA1 + aadA1 (n=4), dfrA12 + addA2 (n=1), dfrA12+orf+addA2 (n=1). The qnrB gene was detected in six strains out of 13 quinolone-resistant E. coli strains. Seventeen E. coli isolates from diarrhoeic rabbits harboured the enteropathogenic eae genes associated with different virulence genes tested (fimA, cnf1, aer), and affiliated to B2 (n=8) and D (n=9) phylogroups. Isolated E. coli strains from healthy rabbit were harbouring fim A and/or cnf1 genes and affiliated to A and B1 phylogroups. This study showed that E. coli strains from the intestinal tract of rabbits are resistant to the widely prescribed antibiotics in medicine. Therefore, they constitute a reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant genes, which may play a significant role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance. In addition, the eae virulence gene seemed to be implicated in diarrhoea in breeder rabbits in Tunisia.

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Virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes associated with the in-vivo pathogenicity of avian pathogenic E. coli isolates

GMPC Thesis and Opinions Platform ◽

10.51585/gtop.2021.0005 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 17-20

Author(s):

Ahmed Abd El-Mawgoud ◽

Azza El-Sawah ◽

Soad Nasef ◽

Al-Hussien Dahshan ◽

Ahmed Ali

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Resistance Genes ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Health Concern ◽

Pathogenicity Test ◽

E Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

In the current study, ten avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) isolates of the most predominant APEC serogroups isolated from broiler chickens in Egypt were screened for their virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes pattern using PCR. Five selected virulence gene patterns were further investigated for their in-vivo pathogenicity test. Results showed a 100% prevalence of the β-lactams and tetracyclines resistance genes. However, aminoglycoside and quinolone resistance genes were not detected. Also, 80% of the tested isolates harbored mcr-1 gene, colistin resistance gene. In-vivo pathogenic strains consistently harbored the virulence gene pattern of fimH, fimA, papC, iutA, and tsh. Additionally, the tsh gene was consistently detected with lethal APEC isolates in day-old chicks. These results highlighted the high prevalence of antimicrobial and virulence genes in APEC that potentially represent a public health concern. In this study, the virulence genes fimH, fimA, papC, iutA, and tsh were the most common virulence gene patterns associated with pathogenicity in day-old chicks.

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Virulence-Associated Genes and Antimicrobial Resistance of Aeromonas hydrophila Isolates from Animal, Food, and Human Sources in Brazil

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2020/1052607 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Emily Moraes Roges ◽

Verônica Dias Gonçalves ◽

Maira Duarte Cardoso ◽

Marcia Lima Festivo ◽

Salvatore Siciliano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Aeromonas Hydrophila ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Animal Health ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Aquatic Environments ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Human Source

Aeromonads are natural inhabitants of aquatic environments and may be associated with various human or animal diseases. Its pathogenicity is complex and multifactorial and is associated with many virulence factors. In this study, 110 selected Aeromonas hydrophila isolates isolated from food, animals, and human clinical material from 2010 to 2015 were analyzed. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the disk diffusion method, and polymerase chain reaction was conducted to investigate the virulence genes hemolysin (hlyA), cytotoxic enterotoxin (act), heat-labile cytotonic enterotoxin (alt), aerolysin (aerA), and DNase-nuclease (exu). At least 92.7% of the isolates had one of the investigated virulence genes. Twenty different virulence profiles among the isolates were recognized, and the five investigated virulence genes were observed in four isolates. Human source isolates showed greater diversity than food and animal sources. Antimicrobial resistance was observed in 46.4% of the isolates, and multidrug resistance was detected in 3.6% of the isolates. Among the 120 isolates, 45% were resistant to cefoxitin; 23.5% to nalidixic acid; 16.6% to tetracycline; 13.7% to cefotaxime and imipenem; 11.8% to ceftazidime; 5.9% to amikacin, gentamicin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim; and 3.9% to ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin. Overall, the findings of our study indicated the presence of virulence genes and that antimicrobial resistance in A. hydrophila isolates in this study is compatible with potentially pathogenic bacteria. This information will allow us to recognize the potential risk through circulating isolates in animal health and public health and the spread through the food chain offering subsidies for appropriate sanitary actions.

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Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Determination of Enterococcus spp. Obtained from Hospital Environment in Iran

10.21203/rs.3.rs-123398/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Saba Asgharzadeh Marghmalek ◽

Reza Valadan ◽

Mehrdad Gholami ◽

Mohtaram Nasrolahei ◽

Hamid Reza Goli

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Resistance Genes ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽

Hospital Environment ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Virulence Determinants ◽

Environmental Isolates ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

Abstract Background: The role of the hospital environment as a source of pathogenic bacteria in recent studies has been poorly investigated. This study investigated the distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence determinants in Enterococcus species isolated from hospital environment in Sari, Iran. Method: Overall, 90 enterococci strains were obtained from high touch surfaces of four hospitals in Sari, Iran. These environmental samples were obtained from bathroom, beds, tables, doorknobs, room keys, wheelchair and walls in the patient and staff’s rooms. The resistance profile of the isolates was determined by disk diffusion method. Seven resistance genes and two virulence associated genes were evaluated molecularly by multiplex PCR. Results: According to the PCR, 42 (46.66%) of them were E. faecalis and 48 (53.33%) others were detected as E. faecium. Also, 28 (66.6%) E. faecalis and 18 (37.5%) E. faecium isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Among all 90 environmental isolates 54 (60%), 54 (60%), 8 (8.8%), 8 (8.8%), 60 (66.6%), 26 (28.8%), and 24 (26.6%) isolates contained tetM, tetL, vanA, vanB, ermB, aac(6´)-Ie-aph(2´´)-Ia, and aph (3´)-IIIa, respectively. Moreover, all isolates were investigated for the presence of virulence genes and 88 (97.7%) of isolates had esp gene, and 16 (17.7%) had ace.Conclusions: This report showed that the environmental isolates of Enterococcus are the major sources of antibiotic resistance genes that can transfer them to the clinical isolates of bacteria in hospital settings. An effective following strategy should be organized to clearance and stop emergence of these pathogenic bacteria.

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