We evaluated the Hyplex BloodScreen PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system (BAG, Lich, Germany), a new diagnostic test for the direct identification of gram-negative bacilli and gram-positive cocci from positive blood cultures, with 482 positive BACTEC 9240 blood culture bottles. The test involves amplification of the bacterial DNA by multiplex PCR and subsequent hybridization of ...

Emerging drug resistance of the enterococci necessitates differentiation from group D streptococci and accurate species identification. MicroScan (Baxter Healthcare Corp., West Sacramento, Calif.) has recently developed a microdilution system for identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing of gram-positive cocci. To evaluate the ability of this system to identify Enterococcus species, ...

VanA-type vancomycin-resistant enterococci isolates from bloodstream infections in Cuba were genetically characterized. Enterococcus faecalis isolates were assigned to sequence type (ST) 28, closely related to Eastern Europe, while Enterococcus faecium belonged to ST262, ST656 and ST1349, and showed different genetic profiles.

Background and Objective: Enterococcal infections are considered the most common nosocomial infections. Nowadays, enterococci show high resistance to common antibiotics, especially vancomycin. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium is one of the most common nosocomial infections, which is included in the World Health Organization priority pathogens list for research and development of new an...

AIMS To determine the levels and species distribution of enterococci in intertidal and marine sediments and coastal waters at two beaches frequently in violation of bacterial water standards. METHODS AND RESULTS Faecal indicator bacteria were extracted from sediment and enumerated using membrane filtration. High levels of enterococci were detected in intertidal sediments in a seasonal river a...

In a survey of retail meat samples, twelve quinupristin-dalfopristin-resistant (MICs, > or =4 mg/liter) Enterococcus faecium isolates that carried a vat(E) gene were recovered. DNA sequence comparison revealed five new variations in the vat(E) allele among 12 isolates, which were designated vat(E-4) through vat(E-8); two isolates had vat(E-1). There was no correlation between the number of base...

The E test and the reference agar dilution methods were compared for detecting high-level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR) among 71 selected clinical isolates, including 62 Enterococcus faecalis and 9 Enterococcus faecium isolates. High-level gentamicin resistance alone was found in 11% (5 E. faecalis and 3 E. faecium strains) and high-level streptomycin resistance was found in 42% (28 E. faeca...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of virulence determinants and vancomycin-resistant genes among Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium obtained from various clinical sources. METHODS The study was performed on the 280 enterococcal isolated from clinical specimens in Hamadan hospitals, western Iran in 2012-14. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using ...