Genetic relatedness and antimicrobial resistance determinants among clinical isolates of enterococci from Cuba

• Published in: Clinical microbiology and infection Vol. 12; no. 8; pp. 793 - 797
• Main Authors: Quiñones-Pérez, D., Goñi, P., Rubio, M.C., Baquero, F., Gómez–Lus, R., Del Campo, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2006; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Aminoglycosides - metabolism; Aminoglycosides - pharmacology; Antimicrobial resistance; Biological and medical sciences; Cuba; Drug Resistance, Bacterial - genetics; Enterococcus - drug effects; Enterococcus - genetics; Enterococcus faecalis; Enterococcus faecium; Enterococcus spp; epidemiology; genetic relatedness; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; resistance; Central America; Cuba; America; West Indies; Cuba; epidemiology; Antimicrobial resistance; Enterococcus spp; resistance; genetic relatedness; Enterococcus; Drug susceptibility test; Epidemiology; Infection; Resistance; Streptococcaceae; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Clinical isolate
• ISSN: 1198-743X; 1469-0691
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2006.01421.x

This study describes the genetic relationships and antimicrobial resistance determinants found among 99 clinical isolates of enterococci from 15 different hospitals in Cuba. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis SmaI analysis demonstrated a high degree of genetic diversity. A limited number of multiresistant Enterococcus faecalis clones, showing resistance to three or more families of antimicrobial agents, were detected simultaneously in different institutions, suggesting inter-hospital circulation of selected clones, and/or selection of particular clones following their introduction into the hospital environment. Antimicrobial resistance determinants, including erm(B), aac(6′)–aph(2′), aph(3′), ant(6), vanB (E. faecalis) and vanA (Enterococcus faecium) were detected by PCR in various isolates.