Analysis of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Hemato-Oncological Patients

• Main Authors: Kristýna Hricová (Author), Taťána Štosová (Author), Pavla Kučová (Author), Kateřina Fišerová (Author), Jan Bardoň (Author), Milan Kolář (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2020-11-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Enterococci are important bacterial pathogens, and their significance is even greater in the case of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The study analyzed the presence of VRE in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of hemato-oncological patients. Active screening using selective agars yielded VRE for phenotypic and genotypic analyses. Isolated strains were identified with MALDI-TOF MS, (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry) their susceptibility to antibiotics was tested, and resistance genes (<i>vanA</i>, <i>vanB</i>, <i>vanC-1</i>, <i>vanC2-C3</i>) and genes encoding virulence factors (<i>asa1</i>, <i>gelE</i>, <i>cylA</i>, <i>esp</i>, <i>hyl</i>) were detected. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to assess the relationship of the isolated strains. Over a period of three years, 103 VanA-type VRE were identified in 1405 hemato-oncological patients. The most frequently detected virulence factor was extracellular surface protein (84%), followed by hyaluronidase (40%). Unique restriction profiles were observed in 33% of strains; clonality was detected in 67% of isolates. The study found that 7% of hemato-oncological patients carried VRE in their GIT. In all cases, the species identified was <i>Enterococcus faecium</i>. No clone persisted for the entire 3-year study period. However, genetically different clusters were observed for shorter periods of time, no longer than eight months, with identical VRE spreading among patients.

Item Description

10.3390/antibiotics9110785
2079-6382