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Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objectives The aim of our study was to estimate the extent of spread of enterococcal infection as well as vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) colonization at Menofia University Hospitals. and also to delineate occurrence and species prevalence, characterize VRE phenotypes and genotypes by multiplex PCR, and detect esp virulence genes in the enterococcal isolates from different sources. Background Enterococci are part of normal intestinal flora of both humans and animals; however, they have also emerged as significant community-acquired pathogens and are a leading cause of nosocomial infection. Patients and methods In this study, patients were classified into three groups. Group 1 included 195 hospitalized patients. Group 2 included 65 patients from group 1 and group 3 included 50 healthy individuals to detect VRE colonization. Culture was performed using selective media for enterococci (bile esculine agar); detection of the antibiotic susceptibility pattern for enterococcal isolates and detection of VRE were performed. Detection of vanA and vanB genes in VRE using multiplex PCR and PCR detection of the esp gene were also performed. Results The most commonly isolated Enterococcus spp. were Enterococcus faecium (48%) followed by Enterococcus faecalis (32%), Enterococcus durans (12%), Enterococcus avium, and Enterococcus gallinarum (4%). Of the 36 enterococcal isolates, 22 (61.1%) were identified as VRE by minimum inhibitory concentration. The Van A genotype was more common than van B. Of the 36 enterococcal isolates, 16 (77.82%) isolates had the esp gene. A high percentage (10.7%) of hospitalized patients showed colonization with VRE. The occurrence of the esp gene was higher in VRE clinical isolates of group I patients than isolates in stool specimens of patients in group II. Conclusion E. faecium is more common than E. faecalis as a nosocomial pathogen and it also has a great ability to show drug resistance. Emergence of multidrug-resistant enterococci to high-level aminoglycoside and vancomycin is an alarming situation. Fortunately, all VRE isolates are susceptible to linezolid. The Van A genotype is the predominant genotype among different species. A higher rate of gastrointestinal tract colonization by VRE is detected in hospitalized patients.

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