Molecular characterization of glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates from Portuguese hospitals.
Fifty-one pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types and 17 Tn1546 variants were identified among 101 Enterococcus faecium isolates recovered in three distant Portuguese hospitals. Intra- and interhospital dissemination of specific strains and Tn1546 types was detected, which might largely contribute to the endemicity of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium in Portuguese hospitals, as happened previously in other geographical locations.
Novais
Carla
C
REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Microbiologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Aníbal Cunha, 164, 4050-030 Porto, Portugal.
Sousa
João C
JC
Coque
Teresa M
TM
Peixe
Luísa V
LV
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D014640:Vancomycin