Frequency of VanA, VanB and VanH variants amongst vancomycin-resistant enterococci isolated from patients in central region of Iran

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the VRE frequency and the rate of each gene in isolated enterococci from patients with intestinal infection in the central region of Iran. BACKGROUND: Enterococci infections are a public health growing concern due to the glycopeptide antibiotics resistance especially vancomycin. Genes, vanA, B, and H contribute to the influence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted from January to July 2014 in Shahrood university hospital. Enterococci isolation and its antibacterial susceptibility were performed by culturing in Aesculin Azide agar and Kirby-Bauer method, respectively. Vancomycin-resistant genes were screened through conventional PCR, and subsequently sequenced. RESULTS: Among 265 specimens, 100 isolates revealed enterococci, in which E. faecalis (91%) and E. faecium (9%). The isolated enterococci were resistant to vancomycin (6%) and chloramphenicol (21%), whereas their large proportions (94% to 100%) were multi-drug resistant. All VRE isolates belonged to E. faecalis, conversely, the E. faecium were susceptible to the same antibiotic. Both vanA and vanH genes were identified in all VRE isolates, although, no vanB gene was indicated. Homology analysis of sequenced amplicons verified the full length compatibility to the worldwide reported genes. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed VR E. faecalis in gastroenteritis patients and resistance factor for vanA and vanH genes are coordinated. Since enterococci isolates were all multidrug resistance, increase in VR E. faecalis vanA / vanH in this area could be expected.