Virulence Factors in High-level Gentamicin Resistant Enterococcus faecalis Isolates from Hospitalized Patients

Abstract

Background and Objective: High-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) in Enterococcus faecalis has become a serious problem in nosocomial infection due to the difficulty in the treatment of infected patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of potential virulence factors in 45 HLGR E. faecalis clinical isolates.

Methods: The virulence factor genes; gelE, cylA and esp were determined by PCR. The productions of gelatinase, hemolysin and biofilm were also investigated.

Results: The presence of virulence genes in the 45 HLGR E. faecalis isolates determined were 55.55%, 57.77% and 86.66% for gel E, cyl A and esp, respectinely. The productions of gelatinase, hemolysin and biofilm were found in 13.33%, 62.23% and 64.45% of E. faecalis isolates, repectively.

Conclusion: The HLGR E. faecalis clinical isolates possessed the virulence factors which have the potential to cause the disease. These findings suggest an effectively control strategy of these bacteria in hospitalized patients should be taken into consideration.