Antibiogram of Urinary Enterococcus Isolates from a Tertiary Care Hospital

• Published in: Infectious disorders drug targets Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 146
• Main Authors: Bhat, Nanditha Rajaram, Shivashankar, Shruthi Bhat Kodur, Dhanashree, Biranthabail
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United Arab Emirates 2021
• Subjects: Enterococcus faecalis; Enterococcus faecium; vancomycin resistant enterococci; PCR.Urinary Enterococcus; Antibiotics
• ISSN: 2212-3989
• DOI: 10.2174/1871526520666200403140618

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the serious infections caused by the bacteria Enterococci. Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) is a persevering clinical problem globally. This study aims to detect high-level aminoglycoside and vancomycin resistance in uropathogenic Enterococcus spp. A total of 75 clinically relevant Enterococcus spp. grown from urine samples, were collected following convenience non-random sampling method. Identified by standard biochemical tests and susceptibility to antibiotics was studied by Kirby Bauer's disc diffusion method. The MIC of vancomycin was detected by agar dilution test. Van A, and Van B genes in VREs were detected by PCR. Among 75 Enterococcal isolates, 43 (57.3%) were E. faecalis, 12 (16%) were E. faecium, 6 (8%) of each were E. pseudoavium and E. casseliflavus, 5(6.66%) were E. dispar and 3 (4%) were E. durans. E. faecalis (n=19) and E. faecium (n=3) were resistant to High Level Streptomycin (HLS). E. faecalis (n=21) and E. faecium (n=6) were resistant to High Level Gentamicin (HLG). 4 (9.3%) E. faecalis were vancomycin-resistant, out of which 3 were of Van A, and one was both Van A and Van B genotype. Isolation of high level aminoglycoside resistant (HLAR) Enterococci is a challenge for the treating physician because aminoglycoside cannot be used in combination with glycopeptide or ampicillin for such isolates. The occurrence of HLAR, Van A, and Van B VRE genotypes is a cause of concern as they may transfer drug resistance genes to other bacterial isolates, thus leading to limited therapeutic options.