<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The increasing significance of enterococci as healthcare-associated pathogens can be linked to their limited susceptibility to antibiotics.
In this study, phenotypic and genotypic resistance profiles of 35 [n=18 <italic>E. faecium</italic> (<italic>Efm</italic>); n=17 <italic>E. faecalis (Efs)</italic>] invasive isolates cultured from hospitalized patients were analysed. Phenotypic identification was verified by the multiplex PCR targeting the 16S rDNA and the <italic>ddl</italic> genes encoding for the <italic>Efs</italic> and <italic>Efm –</italic> specific ligases. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the disc diffusion method and E-tests. The high-level streptomycin resistance (HLSR), high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) and glycopeptide resistance was verified by amplification of the <italic>ant(6)-Ia, aac(6’)-Ie-aph(2’’)-Ia,</italic> as well as <italic>vanA</italic> and <italic>vanB genes,</italic> respectively.
More than 70% of all isolates were cultured from patients in the Intensive Care and Internal Medicine Units. Blood was the predominant (77%) site of isolation. All <italic>Efm</italic> isolates were resistant to ampicillin, imipenem, and norfloxacin; 17 isolates demonstrated high-level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR), including 27.7% with HLSR, 38.8% with HLGR and 27.7% with both phenotypes. HLAR was also common in <italic>Efs</italic> (HLSR>70%, HLGR>50%), followed by norfloxacin (64.7%) and ampicillin (11.7%) resistance. The <italic>ant(6)-Ia and aac(6’)-Ie-aph(2’’)-Ia</italic> genes were detected in >90% of the HLSR and HLGR isolates, respectively. Glycopeptide resistance was detected in 4 (22.2%) <italic>Efm</italic> isolates and mediated by the <italic>vanA</italic> gene. 19 (54.3%) isolates were multidrug resistant, including 17 (89.5%) <italic>Efm</italic>. All isolates were susceptible to linezolid.
The study constitutes a contribution to the analysis of enterococcal antimicrobial resistance in Polish hospitals. The monitoring of enterococcal prevalence and antimicrobial resistance is crucial to control and prevent infections.
</abstract>

The increasing significance of enterococci as healthcare-associated pathogens can be linked to their limited susceptibility to antibiotics.
In this study, phenotypic and genotypic resistance profiles of 35 [n=18 E. faecium (Efm); n=17 E. faecalis (Efs)] invasive isolates cultured from hospitalized patients were analysed. Phenotypic identification was verified by the multiplex PCR targeting the 16S rDNA and the ddl genes encoding for the Efs and Efm – specific ligases. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the disc diffusion method and E-tests. The high-level streptomycin resistance (HLSR), high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) and glycopeptide resistance was verified by amplification of the ant(6)-Ia, aac(6’)-Ie-aph(2’’)-Ia, as well as vanA and vanB genes, respectively.
More than 70% of all isolates were cultured from patients in the Intensive Care and Internal Medicine Units. Blood was the predominant (77%) site of isolation. All Efm isolates were resistant to ampicillin, imipenem, and norfloxacin; 17 isolates demonstrated high-level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR), including 27.7% with HLSR, 38.8% with HLGR and 27.7% with both phenotypes. HLAR was also common in Efs (HLSR>70%, HLGR>50%), followed by norfloxacin (64.7%) and ampicillin (11.7%) resistance. The ant(6)-Ia and aac(6’)-Ie-aph(2’’)-Ia genes were detected in >90% of the HLSR and HLGR isolates, respectively. Glycopeptide resistance was detected in 4 (22.2%) Efm isolates and mediated by the vanA gene. 19 (54.3%) isolates were multidrug resistant, including 17 (89.5%) Efm. All isolates were susceptible to linezolid.
The study constitutes a contribution to the analysis of enterococcal antimicrobial resistance in Polish hospitals. The monitoring of enterococcal prevalence and antimicrobial resistance is crucial to control and prevent infections.

Analysis of the phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles of clinically significant enterococci isolated in the Provincial Specialist Hospital in Lublin, Poland

Chair and Department of Medical Microbiology

Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Coagulation and Microbiology, Provincial Specialist Hospital Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski

Current Issues in Pharmacy and Medical Sciences

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The increasing significance of enterococci as healthcare-associated pathogens can be linked to their limited susceptibility to antibiotics.
In this study,...

Analysis of the phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles of clinically significant enterococci isolated in the Provincial Specialist Hospital in Lublin, Poland

Published Online: Dec 30, 2021

Page range: 174 - 180

Received: Jul 14, 2021

Accepted: Sep 01, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cipms-2021-0032

Keywords
Enterococci, antibiotic resistance, multidrug resistance, high-level aminoglycoside resistant enterococci, vancomycin-resistant enterococci

© 2021 Agnieszka Bogut et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Analysis of the phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles of clinically significant enterococci isolated in the Provincial Specialist Hospital in Lublin, Poland

Published Online: Dec 30, 2021

Page range: 174 - 180

Received: Jul 14, 2021

Accepted: Sep 01, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cipms-2021-0032

KeywordsEnterococci, antibiotic resistance, multidrug resistance, high-level aminoglycoside resistant enterococci, vancomycin-resistant enterococci

© 2021 Agnieszka Bogut et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Enterococci, antibiotic resistance, multidrug resistance, high-level aminoglycoside resistant enterococci, vancomycin-resistant enterococci