Molecular typing, pathogenicity factor genes and antimicrobial susceptibility of vancomycin resistant enterococci in Belgrade, Serbia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2015

Publication Title

Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica

Abstract

In this study the distribution of species and antimicrobial resistance among vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) recovered from clinical specimens obtained from five hospitals in Belgrade was analyzed. Strains were further characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to investigate the presence of vanA and vanB genes and pathogenicity factor genes. Identification of 194 VRE isolates revealed 154 Enterococcus faecium, 21 Enterococcus faecalis, 10 Enterococcus raffinosus and 9 Enterococcus gallinarum. This study revealed existence of 8 major clones of VRE. PCR determined vanA gene to be present in all of the VRE studied. Esp and hyl genes were present in 29.22% and 27.92% of E. faecium, respectively, and in 76.19% and 0 of E. faecalis, respectively. Esp and hyl genes were not found more frequently in members of predominant clones of E. faecium than in single isolates; nor was their presence connected to invasiveness.

Medical Subject Headings

Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cluster Analysis; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Genotype; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Typing; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prospective Studies; Serbia; Species Specificity; Vancomycin; Vancomycin Resistance; Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci; Virulence Factors

PubMed ID

26132835

Volume

62

Issue

2

First Page

147

Last Page

160

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