Environmental contamination with vancomycin-resistant enterococci from hospital sewage in Portugal.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were detected in samples of sewage obtained downstream of hospitals of the Porto area in Portugal, and in samples from the Douro Estuary. Clonal analysis, Tn1546 typing, and presence of putative virulence traits indicate the clinical origin of these isolates. This observation highlights the importance of hospital sewage in the VRE contamination of the environment.
Novais
Carla
C
REQUIMTE Laboratório de Microbiologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
Coque
Teresa M
TM
Ferreira
Helena
H
Sousa
João Carlos
JC
Peixe
Luisa
L
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011174:Portugal; D045483:Rivers / Q000382:microbiology*; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012722:Sewage; D014640:Vancomycin