Evidence for clonal spread of a single strain of beta-lactamase-producing Enterococcus (Streptococcus) faecalis to six hospitals in five states. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Beta-lactamase-producing (Bla+) enterococci have been reported in three state and two countries. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to compare 14 Bla+ Enterococcus (Streptococcus) faecalis isolated from hospitalized patients in seven states and three continents. The restriction endonuclease digestion patterns of isolates from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Lebanon, and Argentina were all markedly different, indicating that these were different strains. However, isolates from Delaware, Texas, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh), Florida, and Virginia were similar, indicating that these isolates were derivatives of a single strain. This conclusion was supported by hybridization using individual fragments as probes. Spread of Bla+ enterococci within the hospital setting was also demonstrated. These findings illustrate the value of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for epidemiologic analyses and support the importance of identifying and containing organisms with new resistance properties in an effort to decrease their transmission to and from, as well as within, hospitals.

publication date

  • April 1, 1991

Research

keywords

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Enterococcus faecalis
  • Streptococcal Infections
  • beta-Lactamases

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0025869217

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1093/infdis/163.4.780

PubMed ID

  • 1901330

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 163

issue

  • 4