Inhibition of vancomycin-resistant enterococci by an in vitro continuous-flow competitive exclusion culture containing human stool flora.
An in vitro anaerobic continuous-flow competitive exclusion (CFCE) culture model was used to study the ability of human stool flora to inhibit the growth of vancomycin-resistant (VR) enterococci (VRE). The CFCE culture was established from a stool sample obtained from a healthy adult. When 10(3) or 10(6) cfu/mL of VR Enterococcus faecium were added to the CFCE culture, the VRE were eliminated within 6 or 9 days, respectively. When 10(7) cfu/mL of the CFCE culture was added to a continuous-flow culture that contained 10(7) cfu/mL of VRE, the density of VRE was reduced but not eliminated. These data support the hypothesis that the indigenous intestinal flora inhibit growth of VRE and suggest that CFCE cultures may be a useful means to study interactions between the indigenous flora and VRE.
Donskey
C J
CJ
Infectious Diseases Section, Louis Stokes Cleveland Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA. curtisd123@yahoo.com
Hume
M E
ME
Callaway
T R
TR
Das
S M
SM
Hoyen
C K
CK
Rice
L B
LB
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D000898:Antibiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance
D003470:Culture Media