Full Length Research Paper
Abstract
This study is the first to report on the resistant phenotypes and genotypes ofEnterococcus faecium clinical isolates in Shantou, China. A total of 39 E. faeciumclinical isolates were collected from January 2004 to January 2006 and analyzed for their resistance to 10 antibiotics and for genes coding for resistance to the associated antibiotics. E. faecium isolates were resistant to 5 or more antibiotics, and most showed high minimal inhibitory concentrations to many antibiotics as well. Resistance to erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and penicillin was 100.0, 100.0, 97.4, and 92.3%, respectively. The mean resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and high levels of gentamicin was 80% or greater for each. Neither β-lactamase-producing nor vancomycin-resistant isolates were found. Genes such as aph(3′)-III,ermB, aac(6′)/aph2″, ant(6)-I,gyrA, TetM, ParC, and pbp5coding for resistance to the associated antibiotics were present at 79.5, 71.8, 92.3, 71.8, 100.0, 38.5, 23.1 and 69.2% respectively. E. faecium isolates showing multidrug resistance (MDR) were prevalent in Shantou. A total of 32 strains carried at least 5 resistance genes. The gene profile of E. faecium isolates (ermB/aac(6′)/aph2″/aph(3′)-III/ant(6)-I/gyrA/Pbp5) indicated that most of the strains carried MDR in different regions. The high occurrence of MDR suggested maintenance of selective pressure by use of different antibiotics. A rapid increase in antibiotic resistance is the result of incorrect antibiotics.
Key words: Enterococcus faecium, multidrug-resistance, phenotype, genotype.
Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.
This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0