title: Species identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing of enterococci isolated from hospitalized patients.
abstract: A total of 236 enterococci from hospitalized patients were identified to the species level, and their susceptibilities to 11 antibiotics were determined. Overall, 195 (82.6%) and 38 (16.1%) isolates were identified as Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium, respectively, but the species distribution as determined from blood culture isolates differed markedly. A total of 27 (63.2%) E. faecium isolates, but no E. faecalis strains, were ampicillin resistant (MIC, greater than 8 micrograms/ml). High-level gentamicin resistance (MIC, greater than 500 micrograms/ml) was found in 8.2% of E. faecalis isolates but was not seen in other species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pedler
mesh_terms: D000668:Ampicillin Resistance; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents