Establishment of a typing system for group D streptococci.
Group D streptococci (n = 971, 4037 samples, 139 patients) were isolated from two intensive care units. Differentiation and typing revealed 6 species, 25 phage types, and 85 enterococcinotypes. Distribution of species showed strong differences especially concerning Enterococcus faecium which was rarely isolated from extraintestinal sites (5.9%). Phage typing was species specific and discriminated Enterococcus faecalis (n = 703 typable isolates, 19 phage types) and the other group D streptococci (n = 63 typable isolates, 6 phage types). Based on the production of enterococcines (15 indicator strains used) the isolates could be classified into 6 groups, one of which was further subdivided into 3 subgroups. Enterococcus faecalis ssp. liquefaciens (n = 618), phage type V6b (n = 596), and enterococcine group IVc (n = 568) were most common. The combined use of markers resulted in 187 combinations, which demonstrated the valuable properties of the system.
D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001434:Bacteriophage Typing; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification*
D001430:Bacteriocins