Detection of enterococcal surface protein gene (esp) and amplified fragment length polymorphism typing of glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium during its emergence in a Greek intensive care unit

C Routsi; E Platsouka; R J L Willems; M J M Bonten; O Paniara; G Saroglou; C Roussos

doi:10.1128/JCM.41.12.5742-5746.2003

Detection of enterococcal surface protein gene (esp) and amplified fragment length polymorphism typing of glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium during its emergence in a Greek intensive care unit

J Clin Microbiol. 2003 Dec;41(12):5742-6. doi: 10.1128/JCM.41.12.5742-5746.2003.

Authors

C Routsi¹, E Platsouka, R J L Willems, M J M Bonten, O Paniara, G Saroglou, C Roussos

Affiliation

¹ Department of Critical Care, Medical School of Athens University, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece. croutsi@hotmail.com

Abstract

The emergence of glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium (GREF) in a Greek intensive care unit was studied by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis and esp gene detection. Three GREF clones harboring the esp gene were recovered from 17 out of 21 patients, indicating the dissemination of genetically homogenous and virulent strains of GREF.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
Enterococcus faecium / classification
Enterococcus faecium / genetics*
Enterococcus faecium / isolation & purification*
Genetic Variation
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
Greece
Humans
Membrane Proteins / genetics*
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Middle Aged
Phylogeny
Polymorphism, Genetic*
Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique / methods
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Bacterial Proteins
Membrane Proteins
enterococcal surface protein, esp