Professional paper

https://doi.org/10.21860/medflum2018_203561

Phenotypic characterization and antimicrobial profile of uropathogenic enterococci

Davorka Repac Antić orcid.org/0000-0003-4496-7996 ; Klinički zavod za kliničku mikrobiologiju, Klinički bolnički centar Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Ivana Gobin orcid.org/0000-0002-8956-4675 ; Zavod za mikrobiologiju i parazitologiju, Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Gabrijela Begić orcid.org/0000-0003-3978-663X ; Zavod za mikrobiologiju i parazitologiju, Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Sanja Štifter ; Zavod za patologiju i patološku anatomiju, Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Maja Abram orcid.org/0000-0003-4113-098X ; Klinički zavod za kliničku mikrobiologiju, Klinički bolnički centar Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the selected virulence factors and the antimicrobial resistance profile of uropathogenic bacteria Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. Materials and Methods: A total of 96 urinary isolates of enterococci were identified by standard and automated biochemical procedures. Using phenotypic methods the presence of caseinase and gelatinase, as well as lipase were detected. Resistance to lysozyme was determined by the agar dilution method. Disk diffusion and microdilution methods were used to test the sensitivity/resistance of isolates to selected antibiotics. Results: Of the total number of uropathogenic enterococci, E. faecalis was identified in 79.2% and E. faecium in 20.8% of cases. The majority of uropathogenic enterococci strains exhibited lipolytic activity while gelatinase and caseinase production dominated in E. faecalis, and was absent in E. faecium. Resistance to lower concentrations of lysozyme was observed in 97% of the total number of uropathogenic enterococci. High levels of resistance to lysozyme were observed in 72% of all strains tested. All E. faecalis isolates were susceptible to glycopeptides and imipenem. Vankomycin (VanA phenotype) resistant enterococci (VRE) were present exclusively among E. faecium strains. The same strains were resistant to imipenem, ampicillin and gentamicin. Conclusion: Given the growing importance of Enterococcus species as a cause of hospital and infections in general population, as well as an increasing frequency of glycopeptide resistance, determining virulence factors and their role in pathogenesis of urinary tract infections is of particular significance.

Keywords

drug resistance; Enterococcus spp; urinary tract infection; uropathogens; virulence factors

Hrčak ID:

203561

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/203561

Publication date:

1.9.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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