Molecular analysis of vanHAX element in vancomycin resistant enterococci isolated from hospitalized patients in Tehran.
BACKGROUND
Vancomycin (glycopeptide)-resistant enterococci (VRE or GRE) can cause serious problems for hospitalized patients due to the limited options for treatment of VRE infections. As infection with VRE increases in hospitals, further knowledge about vancomycin resistant genes is needed.


METHODS
Isolates of Enterococcus spp. were collected from hospitalized patients in Tehran (Iran) during 2006. Detailed molecular analysis was performed for vancomycin resistance genotype and vanHAX using conventional PCR and PCR- RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism), respectively.


RESULTS
out of 830 enterococci spp., 48 VRE isolates (5.8 percent) were obtained. All of VRE isolates carried vanA gene. DdeI digestion of vanHAX element showed the presence of point mutation at 8234 position.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that vanA is a predominant genotype in Iranian isolates. In addition, PCR-RFLP analysis revealed the presence of two types of vanHAX element in vanA harboring transposons.
Talebi
Malihe
M
Dept. of Bacteriology, School of Public Health, Tehran University/Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Pourshafie
Mohammad R
MR
Oskouii
Mahvash
M
Eshraghi
Seyyed Saeed
SS
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D020218:Response Elements; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins