Association between the presence of enterococcal virulence factors gelatinase, hemolysin, and enterococcal surface protein and mortality among patients with bacteremia due to Enterococcus faecalis.
The potential virulence factors of enterococci include production of enterococcal surface protein (Esp), gelatinase, and hemolysin. Gelatinase- and hemolysin-producing strains of Enterococcus faecalis have been shown to be virulent in animal models of enterococcal infections. Esp production has been shown to enhance the persistence of E. faecalis in the urinary bladder. We determined the presence of the esp gene and production of gelatinase and hemolysin in 219 E. faecalis isolates from a larger prospective study of 398 patients with enterococcal bacteremia. Thirty-two percent of isolates carried the esp gene, 64% produced gelatinase, and 11% produced hemolysin. There was no significant association between 14-day mortality and any of the markers studied, singly or in combination.
Vergis
Emanuel N
EN
Infectious Disease Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center/University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA.
Shankar
Nathan
N
Chow
Joseph W
JW
Hayden
Mary K
MK
Snydman
David R
DR
Zervos
Marcus J
MJ
Linden
Peter K
PK
Wagener
Marilyn M
MM
Muder
Robert R
RR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005260:Female; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D014774:Virulence
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D018093:Gelatinases