title: [In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility in Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium isolated from hospitalized patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Enterococcus spp is currently considered as one of the most important nosocomial pathogens . The antibiotic resistance of this group of bacteria is a particularly important problem in health centers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the antibiotic resistance of 50 Enterococcus spp strains isolated from hospitalized patients clinical samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive observational study in 50 clinical isolates of Enterococcus spp. Only one isolate per patient was analyzed . The identification and antibiotic susceptibility were studied by conventional and automated methods . The phenotypic analysis of glycopeptide resistance mechanisms was performed as recommended by the Spanish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases .
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 50 isolates obtained from clinical samples, 30 ( 60.0%) belonged to Enterococcus faecalis and 20 (40.0 %) to Enterococcus faecium . The global resistance expressed by this genre was as follows: Ampicillin, 38/50 ( 76.0%); high-level gentamicin, 33/50 ( 66.0%); high-level streptomycin, 34/50 (68.0 %) ; ciprofloxacin, 26/50 (52.0 %); linezolid, 4/50 (8.0 %); teicoplanin, 17/50 ( 34.0%); vancomycin, 25/50 (50.0 %); minocycline, 31/50 ( 62.0%); tetracycline, 34/50 (68.0 %); nitrofurantoin, 9/50 ( 18.0%). As regards glycopeptides, 25/50 (50.0%) showed a Van A mechanism and 10/50 (20.0 %) a Van B mechanism .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The isolates obtained at Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras showed higher resistance rates than those reported in the consulted literature. The high percentage of vancomycin-resistant strains might have influenced the development of other Gram-positive bacteria resistant to this drug. This is the first report on Enterococcus faecium resistant to linezolid in a Cuban hospital.
authors: Departamento de Microbiología, Hospital Clínico-Quirúrgico Hermanos Ameijeiras, La Habana, Cuba.
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Medell
authors: Departamento de Microbiología, Hospital Clínico-Quirúrgico Hermanos Ameijeiras, La Habana, Cuba.
authors: Marcia
authors: M
authors: Hart
authors: Departamento de Microbiología, Hospital Clínico-Quirúrgico Hermanos Ameijeiras, La Habana, Cuba.
authors: María Luisa
authors: ML
authors: Batista
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D000069349:Linezolid; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D000069349:Linezolid