Relation of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium Isolates from Foods and Clinical Specimens

2008 ◽  
Vol 71 (10) ◽  
pp. 2100-2104 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. TEMPLER ◽  
P. ROHNER ◽  
A. BAUMGARTNER
Keyword(s):  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Enterococcus Faecium ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Pfge Typing ◽  
Resistance Patterns ◽  
Small Clusters ◽  
Pfge Profiles

Clinical Enterococcus faecalis (n = 65) and Enterococcus faecium (n = 12) blood isolates from three Swiss hospitals were characterized with testing for resistance to antimicrobial agents, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and the occurrence of virulence factors. Phenotypic determination of resistance to antimicrobial agents resulted in 20% of E. faecalis isolates showing a triple resistance against chloramphenicol, tetracycline, erythromycin, and seven isolates (two E. faecalis and five E. faecium) exhibiting a multiresistance against five or more antimicrobials. One isolate each of E. faecalis and E. faecium showed vancomycin resistance. All isolates contained at least two of the nine tested virulence genes (agg, gelE, cyl, esp, efaAfs, efaAfm, cpd, cob, and ccf ). Phylogenetic analysis of the PFGE profiles identified several small clusters within E. faecalis isolates, one of which included isolates of all three hospitals. Fifty-six (73%) isolates occurred as unique, patient-specific clones. Several PFGE types were associated with shared features in their resistance patterns, indicating spread between and within wards. Finally, enterococci from this study and previous isolates from cheeses were examined by PFGE typing. The comparison of PFGE profiles from human and food isolates resulted in clusters of genetically strong related strains, which suggests high similarities of the enterococcal community composition of these two environments. A possible spread of the enterococcal isolates through the food supply cannot be excluded.

Detection of virulence factors in high-level gentamicin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium isolates from a Tunisian hospital

2007 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Klibi ◽  
K. Ben Slama ◽  
Y. Sáenz ◽  
A. Masmoudi ◽  
S. Zanetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Enterococcus Faecium ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Virulence Gene ◽  
Gelatinase Activity ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
High Level

Phenotypic and genotypic determination of virulence factors were carried out in 46 high-level gentamicin-resistant (HLGR) clinical Enterococcus faecalis (n = 34) and Enterococcus faecium (n = 12) isolates recovered from different patients in La Rabta Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia, between 2000 and 2003 (all these isolates harboured the aac(6′)–aph(2″) gene). The genes encoding virulence factors (agg, gelE, ace, cylLLS, esp, cpd, and fsrB) were analysed by PCR and sequencing. The production of gelatinase and hemolysin, the adherence to caco-2 and hep-2 cells, and the capacity for biofilm formation were investigated in all 46 HLGR enterococci. The percentages of E. faecalis isolates harbouring virulence genes were as follows: gelE, cpd, and ace (100%); fsrB (62%); agg (56%); cylLLS (41.2%); and esp (26.5%). The only virulence gene detected among the 12 HLGR E. faecium isolates was esp (58%). Gelatinase activity was detected in 22 of the 34 E. faecalis isolates (65%, most of them with the gelE+–fsrB+ genotype); the remaining 12 isolates were gelatinase-negative (with the gelE+–fsrB– genotype and the deletion of a 23.9 kb fragment of the fsr locus). Overall, 64% of the cylLLS-containing E. faecalis isolates showed β-hemolysis. A high proportion of our HLGR E. faecalis isolates, in contrast to E. faecium, showed moderate or strong biofilm formation or adherence to caco-2 and hep-2 cells.

scholarly journals Incidence of virulence determinants in clinical Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis isolates collected in Sardinia (Italy)

2003 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 491-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Duprè ◽  
S. Zanetti ◽  
A. M. Schito ◽  
G. Fadda ◽  
L. A. Sechi
Keyword(s):  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Enterococcus Faecium ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Protein Gene ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Colonization Factor ◽  
Aggregation Substance ◽  
Epithelial Cell Lines ◽  
Surface Protein Gene

Enterococci are widely distributed in the environment; within the human body, they are normal commensals of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract and vagina. In recent years, enterococci have become one of the most frequent causes of acquired nosocomial infections worldwide. The molecular mechanism of virulence of these bacteria is still not completely understood. The aims of this work were to characterize phenotypically 47 isolates of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium collected in Sardinia (Italy) by their abilities to adhere to different epithelial cell lines (Vero and Caco-2 cells) and to associate their phenotypes with the presence of known virulence genes detected within their genomes by PCR. The following genes were amplified: AS (aggregation substance), esp (surface protein gene), ace (accessory colonization factor), efaA (E. faecalis endocarditis antigen) and gelE (gelatinase). The virulence genes were detected in E. faecalis isolates only, with the exception of esp, which was found in both species. The phenotypic and genotypic results were also compared with the susceptibility of isolates to various antibiotics.

scholarly journals Active efflux of antimicrobial agents in wild-type strains of enterococci.

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 869-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Lynch ◽  
P Courvalin ◽  
H Nikaido
Keyword(s):  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Enterococcus Faecium ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Active Efflux ◽  
Energy Dependent ◽  
Reference Strains ◽  
Type Strains

Enterococci are intrinsically resistant to numerous antimicrobial agents. We examined the energy-dependent efflux of radiolabeled drugs from four reference strains of Enterococcus faecalis and a strain of Enterococcus faecium and found that most strains pumped out norfloxacin and chloramphenicol. Efflux of tetracycline was detected only in certain strains.

scholarly journals Determination of Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in Bloodstream Infections-Isolated Bacteria From a University Tertiary Hospital Patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-54
Author(s):  
Alka Hasani ◽  
Nasim Asadi Faezi ◽  
Mohammad Ahangarzadeh Rezaee ◽  
Elham Sheykhsaran ◽  
Narges Darabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Resistance Rate ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Hospital Patients ◽  
Resistance Patterns ◽  
Susceptibility Patterns

Background: Bloodstream infections are considered a significant medical concern associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Therefore, physicians should be guided to use antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in order to select appropriate empiric antimicrobial agents to treat the patients who suffer from bacteremia. Objective: The present study aimed to determine antimicrobial resistance and susceptibility patterns in isolates collected from bloodstream infections. Materials and Methods: To achieve this, a total of 710 bacterial blood culture isolates were collected from Sina hospital, and then susceptibility patterns to a number of antibiotics were analyzed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Results: The identified isolates included Staphylococcus aureus 14 (20.6%), Escherichia coli 14 (20.6%), Acinetobacter baumannii 12 (17.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 11 (16.2%), Coagulasenegative Staphylococcus 8 (11.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 6 (8.8%), and Enterobacter spp. 3 (4.4%). The total resistance rate to co-trimoxazole, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, ofloxacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, amikacin, and imipenem was 44 (64.7%), 42 (61.8%), 39 (57.4%), 38 (55.9%), 35 (51.51%), 32 (47.1%), 31 (45.6%), 25 (36.8%), and 27 (39.7%), respectively. Finally, the susceptibility rate to amikacin and imipenem was 43 (63.2%) and 41 (60.3%), respectively. Conclusion: In general, A. baumannii strains isolated from blood cultures were resistant to most antibiotics and the greatest sensitivity was observed to gentamicin (58.3%) compared to other antibiotics. Therefore, gentamicin was found as the most effective antibiotic for treating bloodstream infections caused by A. baumannii.

scholarly journals Genotypic Diversity, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Virulence Factors of Human Isolates and Probiotic Cultures Constituting Two Intraspecific Groups of Enterococcus faecium Isolates

2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (14) ◽  
pp. 4247-4255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Vankerckhoven ◽  
Geert Huys ◽  
Marc Vancanneyt ◽  
Cindy Snauwaert ◽  
Jean Swings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Enterococcus Faecium ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Genotypic Diversity ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Pfge Analysis ◽  
Genotypic Resistance ◽  
Group I ◽  
Pcr Multiplex

ABSTRACTThe intraspecific relationships among a collection ofEnterococcus faeciumisolates comprising probiotic cultures and human clinical isolates were investigated through the combined use of two high-resolution DNA-fingerprinting techniques. In addition, the incidences of antimicrobial resistance and virulence traits were investigated. A total of 128E. faeciumisolates from human clinical or nonclinical sources or used as probiotic cultures were subjected to fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism (FAFLP) fingerprinting and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis of SmaI macrorestriction patterns. Susceptibilities to 16 antimicrobial agents were tested using broth microdilution, and the presence of the corresponding resistance genes was investigated using PCR. Multiplex PCR was used to detect the presence of the enterococcal virulence genesasa1,gelE,cylA,esp, andhyl. The results of the study showed that two intraspecific genomic groups (I and II) were obtained in FAFLP analysis. PFGE analysis demonstrated high variability within these two groups but also indicated that some probiotic cultures were indistinguishable and that a number of clinical isolates may be reisolations of commercial probiotic cultures. Compared to group II, which contained the majority of the probiotic isolates and fewer human clinical isolates, higher phenotypic and genotypic resistance frequencies were observed in group I. Two probiotic isolates were phenotypically resistant to erythromycin, one of which contained anerm(B) gene that was not transferable to enterococcal recipients. None of the probioticE. faeciumisolates demonstrated the presence of the tested virulence genes. The previously reported observation thatE. faeciumconsists of two intraspecific genomic groups was further substantiated by FAFLP fingerprinting of 128 isolates. In combination with antimicrobial resistance and virulence testing, this grouping might represent an additional criterion in assessing the safety of new potential probioticE. faeciumisolates.

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