[Prevalence of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium with high resistance to aminoglycosides in the cities of Resistencia and Corrientes, Republic of Argentina].
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was characterize the prevalence of high-level aminoglycosides resistance (HLRA) in Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium, determine the relationship between high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) and other aminoglycosides, and their distribution according clinical samples (blood, urine and others).


METHODS
A total of 177 strain (157 E. faecalis and 20 E. faecium) isolated from 1996 to 1998 were studied. They were identified by using classic methods. Their susceptibility to gentamicin, streptomycin, and kanamycin was tested by the disk diffusion technique using high-level disks in agar Müller Hinton.


RESULTS
E. faecalis showed HLRG of 28.7%, streptomycin 28.7% and kanamycin 37.6%, E. faecium showed 50%, 40%, and 60% respectively. The strains with HLRA have a tendency to high-level resistances to streptomycin and kanamycin (p < 0.0005). Statistical analysis demonstrated significative differences among strains with HLRA isolated from blood, urine and other clinical samples (p < 0.0005 to gentamicin and streptomycin and 0.004 < p < 0.007 to kanamycin).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of HLRA enterococci found in the area os this study, justify its detection, particularity in cases of serious infections.
Ronconi
M C
MC
Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Chaco, República Argentina.
Merino
L A
LA
D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001118:Argentina; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects*; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D014504:Urban Health
D000617:Aminoglycosides; D005839:Gentamicins