title: Characterization of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium Isolated from Fresh Produces and Human Fecal Samples.
abstract: Increased enterococcal infections in hospitals and multidrug-resistant and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) isolated from humans, animals, and food sources raised public health concern on the presence of VRE in multiple sources. We performed a comparative analysis of the antimicrobial resistance and genetics of VRE isolates derived from fresh produce and human fecal samples. Of 389 Enterococcus isolates, 8 fecal and 3 produce isolates were resistant to vancomycin and teicoplanin; all harbored vanA gene. The VRE isolates showed multidrug-resistant properties. The isolates from fresh produce in this study showed to have the common shared characteristics with the isolates from humans by the results of antimicrobial resistance, multilocus sequence typing, and Tn 1546 transposon analysis. Therefore, VRE isolates from fresh produce are likely related to VRE derived from humans. The results suggested that VRE may contaminate vegetables through the environment, and the contaminated vegetables could then act as a vehicle for human infections. Ongoing nationwide surveillance of antibiotic resistance and the promotion of the proper use of antibiotics are necessary.
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Food Safety and Evaluation, Department of Biotechnology, Korea University , Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Chan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Food Safety and Evaluation, Department of Biotechnology, Korea University , Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Hyeok
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: 2 Microbial Safety Team, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration , Wanju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Gee
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Food Safety and Evaluation, Department of Biotechnology, Korea University , Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gun-Jo
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Woo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D019729:Carbon-Oxygen Ligases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000382:microbiology*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing; D017334:Teicoplanin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C071437:VanA ligase, Bacteria; D017334:Teicoplanin; D014640:Vancomycin; D019729:Carbon-Oxygen Ligases
keywords: antimicrobial resistance; enterococcus; fresh produces