title: No regional spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci with vanA or vanB in Kitakyushu, Japan.
abstract: Outbreaks of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection occur sporadically in Japan, and their frequency has been gradually increasing. We experienced a nosocomial outbreak of VRE in two hospitals in the city of Kitakyushu, and the spread of VRE strains was suspected in this area. To examine the prevalence rate of infection and colonization of VRE in Kitakyushu, we screened a total of 24 297 clinical samples from patients in hospitals and clinics in Kitakyushu from October through December 2002 for VRE. The isolates screened as positive for VRE accounted for 2.3% (566/24 297) of the tested clinical samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses for vanA, vanB, vanC1, and vanC2/3 were performed to confirm the screening test results. Neither vanA nor vanB genes were detected in any isolates. The 265 vanC1-positive isolates were Enterococcus gallinarum, and the 150 vanC2/3-positive isolates were E. casseliflavus. Other Enterococcus species were negative in this PCR-detection test. In this study, the PCR procedure was considered reliable and successful because although neither vanA nor vanB was detected, vanC1 and vanC2/3 were completely detectable. Therefore, we concluded that the regional spread of VRE with vanA and vanB had not occurred in Kitakyushu in 2002. In the near future, the prevalence of VRE with vanA or vanB is likely to increase in Japan, as it has in other countries. We should continue to find and prevent nosocomial outbreaks of infection and colonization by VRE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan. t-matsu@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muratani
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashida
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oki
authors.forename: Mitsuhito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Odawara
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019729:Carbon-Oxygen Ligases / Q000235:genetics; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C071437:VanA ligase, Bacteria; C079913:VanB protein, Enterococcus; D019729:Carbon-Oxygen Ligases