title: Identification and molecular characterization of Van A-type vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis in Northeast of Brazil.
abstract: The isolation of vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) in Brazil has rapidly increased, following the world wide tendency. We report in the present study the first isolation of vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) in the Northeast of Brazil. The four VRE isolates were characterized for antimicrobial susceptibility, genotypic typing by macro restriction of chromosomal DNA followed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and for characterization of the Tn1546-like element and plasmid contents. The isolates showed resistance to multiple antibiotics and a single genotype profile, suggesting the dissemination of a single clone among the patients. Tn1546 associated to genetic elements as plasmids shows the importance of infection control measures to avoid the spreading of glycopeptide resistance by conjugative transfer of VanA elements.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Rua Arnóbio Marques 310, 50100-130 Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marinalda Anselmo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vilela
authors.forename: Sandra Lavareda de
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Izabel Cristina Vanzato
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.forename: Joseane Cristina
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Marcos Antonio de
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia da Costa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Darini
authors.forename: Márcia Maria Camargo de
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Morais
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001938:Brazil; D019729:Carbon-Oxygen Ligases / Q000235:genetics*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005838:Genotype; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C071437:VanA ligase, Bacteria; D019729:Carbon-Oxygen Ligases