Molecular characterization of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates from Bermuda

Patrick Eberechi Akpaka; Shivnarine Kissoon; Clyde Wilson; Padman Jayaratne; Ashley Smith; George R Golding

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0171317

Molecular characterization of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates from Bermuda

PLoS One. 2017 Mar 7;12(3):e0171317. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171317. eCollection 2017.

Authors

Patrick Eberechi Akpaka¹, Shivnarine Kissoon¹, Clyde Wilson², Padman Jayaratne³, Ashley Smith⁴, George R Golding⁵

Affiliations

¹ Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago.
² Dept. of Pathology and Microbiology, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Hamilton, Bermuda.
³ Dept. of Pathological Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
⁴ Dept. of Pharmacy, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Hamilton, Bermuda.
⁵ Public Health Agency of Canada, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, Canada.

Abstract

Molecular characteristics of vancomycin resistant enterococci isolates from Bermuda Island is currently unknown. This study was conducted to investigate phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of VRE isolates from Bermuda Island using the chromogenic agar, E-tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Eighteen E. faecium isolates were completely analyzed and were all resistant to vancomycin, susceptible to linezolid and quinupristin/dalfopristin, positive for vanA and esp genes. The MLST analysis confirmed most isolates were of the sequence types linked to clonal complex 17 (CC17) that is widely associated with outbreaks in hospitals. Infection control measures, antibiotic stewardship, and surveillance activities will continue to be a priority in hospital on the Island.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
Bermuda / epidemiology
Cluster Analysis
Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
Enterococcus faecium / classification
Enterococcus faecium / drug effects*
Enterococcus faecium / genetics*
Enterococcus faecium / isolation & purification
Female
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / epidemiology*
Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
Humans
Male
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Middle Aged
Multilocus Sequence Typing
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Vancomycin / pharmacology*
Vancomycin Resistance*

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Vancomycin

Grants and funding

The funds were provided by the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.