[Isolation of enterococci species causative of infections and sensitivity to antimicrobial drugs].
Between April 1, 1999 and June 30, 2000, 144 isolates of enterococci (one per patient) from cultures of several anatomic sites were collected. One hundred and nineteen (82.6%) E. faecalis, 11 (7.6%) E. faecium and 14 (9.7%) of other species (5 E. raffinosus, 4 E. avium, 3 E. casseliflavus, 1 E. pseudoavium, and 1 E. dispar) were associated with clinical infections. The most common sites of isolation were: the urinary tract 54.9%, abdominal cavity 12.5%, surgical wounds 12.5%, abscesses 6.9% and diabetic foot 6.2%. High-level resistance to gentamicin or streptomycin or both was detected in 48.6% of the isolates. E. faecium and E. raffinosus were significantly more resistant than E. faecalis to ampicilin and imipenem. None of the strains exhibited beta-lactamase activity. One strain of E. faecium (0.7%) was resistant to vancomicin and teicoplanin (Van A phenotype) and two strains of E. casseliflavus (1.4%) showed low level of resistance to vancomicin (Van C phenotype). Because of these diverse antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, successful treatment and control of enterococcal infections with current antimicrobial agents are becoming increasingly difficult.
Toledo
C
C
Division Bacteriología, Laboratorio Central, Hospital Nacional de Clínicas, Santa Rosa 1564, X5000ETF Córdoba, Argentina.
Perez
M E
ME
Rocchi
M
M
Gribaudo
G
G
Mangiaterra
S
S
Monterisi
A
A
D000038:Abscess / Q000382:microbiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000382:microbiology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013045:Species Specificity; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D017334:Teicoplanin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
D017334:Teicoplanin; D014640:Vancomycin; D015378:Imipenem