Species distribution and antimicrobial resistance of enterococci isolated from surface and ocean water.
OBJECTIVE
The species identification and antimicrobial resistance profiles were determined for enterococci isolated from Southern California surface and ocean waters.


RESULTS
Species identification was determined for 1413 presumptive Enterococcus isolates from urban runoff, bay, ocean and sewage water samples. The most frequently isolated species were Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus casseliflavus and Enterococcus mundtii. All five of these species were isolated from ocean and bay water with a frequency ranging from 7% to 36%. Enterococcus casseliflavus was the most frequently isolated species in urban runoff making up 36-65% of isolates while E. faecium was the most frequently isolated species in sewage making up 53-78% of isolates. The similar distribution of species in urban runoff and receiving water suggests that urban runoff may be the source of Enterococcus. No vancomycin or high level gentamycin resistance was detected in E. faecalis and E. faecium isolates.


CONCLUSIONS
Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, E. casseliflavus and E. mundtii are the most commonly isolated Enterococcus species from urban runoff and receiving waters in Southern California.


CONCLUSIONS
Determination of the Enterococcus species isolated from receiving waters and potential pollution sources may assist in determining the sources of pollution.
Moore
D F
DF
Orange County Public Health Laboratory, Santa Ana, CA, USA.
Guzman
J A
JA
McGee
C
C
D002947:Cities; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011891:Rain; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology; D014871:Water Microbiology
D012722:Sewage