Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci in Belgian renal dialysis units

J Infect Dis. 2000 Jan;181(1):235-41. doi: 10.1086/315182.

Abstract

The molecular epidemiology of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE) colonizing the intestinal tracts of Belgian renal dialysis patients was studied among 1318 patients of a population of 1800 dialysis patients from 29 dialysis centers. Of these, 185 patients (14.0%) were colonized with a VANA-positive GRE; GRE harboring the VANB gene were not detected. The majority of the VANA GRE (80.5%) were identified as Enterococcus faecium; 14.8% were identified as E. faecalis; and a limited number were identified as E. avium, E. casseliflavus, E. dispar, E. durans, or E. gallinarum. Genome analysis of 277 VANA-positive GRE by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed a high genetic variability both within the different dialysis centers and within the patients' own GRE flora. No high-level gentamicin-resistant VANA-positive GRE were detected, and most strains remained susceptible to ampicillin. These findings do not support a hospital-driven endemicity of VANA-positive enterococcal isolates in Belgium.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Belgium
  • Carbon-Oxygen Ligases
  • Enterococcus / drug effects*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Gentamicins / pharmacology
  • Glycopeptides*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Intestines / microbiology*
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Renal Dialysis / adverse effects*
  • Vancomycin Resistance*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Gentamicins
  • Glycopeptides
  • VanA ligase, Bacteria
  • VanB protein, Enterococcus
  • Carbon-Oxygen Ligases