• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.64-67
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• 2014

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) are a leading cause of a nosocomial infection. While seven glycopeptide resistance genotypes have been found in Enterococci, vanA and vanB are the most common resistance genotypes. Aims of this study were to detect antibiotic susceptibilities of 23 Enterococcus spp, which broke out in a university hospital by the disk diffusion test, to investigate specific genes of vanA and vanB by conventional and real-time PCR. PCR for vanA and vanB was performed on 23 Enterococci, all 23 were positive for vanA type. This study reports the validation of a simple and rapid VRE detection method that can be easily incorporated into the daily routine of a clinical laboratory. Early detection of VRE strains, including those with susceptibility to Vancomycin, is of paramount clinical importance, as it allows a rapid initiation of strict infection control practices as well as a therapeutic guidance for a confirmed infection. The real-time PCR method is a rapid technique to detect vanA in Enterococci. It is simple and reliable for the rapid characterization of VRE.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.228-233
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• 2014

This study was performed to examine antimicrobial resistance of Enterococcus spp. strains from retail raw meat and fish products purchased in 2012. 43 Enterococcus spp. strains were isolated from a total of 207 samples (beef, pork, chicken, fish) with contamination rate of 20.8%. The isolated strains were identified as E. faecalis (22 strains), E. gallinarum, E. hirae (5 strains), E. avium (4 strains), E. faecium (3 strains), E. duram, E. casseliflavus (2 strains). Susceptibility to 10 antibiotics was tested, and the highest resistance was observed to tetracycline. And antimicrobial resistance rates were presented below 20% with most of the other antimicrobial agents. The isolated Enterococci from chicken showed higher resistance also to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin, not only to tetracycline, compared to the isolated Enterococci from beef, pork and fish. Sixteen isolates (37.2%) were sensitive to all antibiotics. Four isolates (9.3%) were resistant to 3 or more antibiotics. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) was not identified. According to the results of genetic similarity pattern analysis via PFGE and rep-PCR, Enterococci strains showed different patterns from these collected in 2011. This indicates that there is no genetic similarity among all the strains.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.373-377
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• 2009

From April 2008 to January 2009, a total 458 raw milk samples were randomly collected from 15 stock raising farms located in northern area of Kyunggi province and cultured for the presence of Enterococci spp. A total 170 enterococcal isolates were recovered from the raw milk samples. Enterococcus faecalis was predominant species recovered (64.7%), followed by E. faecium (18.8%), E. avium (5.9%), E. gallinarum (5.9%) and E. durans (4.7%). Antimicrobial resistance patterns of 170 Enterococci spp. against ampicillin, erythromycin, tetracyclin, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin and streptomycin were tested. According to the result, they showed high level resistance to erythromycin and streptomycin (82,9% and 93,5% respectively), moderately resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and tetracyclin (50%, 45.9% and 32%, respectively) but fortunately, vancomycin and ciprofloxacin are still effective against this species.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.581-586
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• 2018

Enterococcus spp. have been considered major indicator organisms for antibiotic resistance due to their ability to easily acquire and to harbor antibiotic resistance. In this study, Enterococcus spp. were isolated from 174 retail fresh-cut products (fresh vegetable salads, microgreens, and sprouts) in Korea. Among the 20 Enterococcus isolates obtained, 18 (90.0%) were Enterococcus faecalis and 2 (10.0%) were Enterococcus faecium. The patterns of antibiotic resistance against nine antimicrobials were analyzed. Most of the isolates (85.0%) were resistant to quinupristin/dalfopristin, 40.0% and 50.0% of the isolates showed intermediate resistance to two critically important antimicrobials for human medicine, ciprofloxacin and erythromycin, respectively. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci were not detected in this study. Given the importance of antimicrobial resistance of enterococci in food safety as well as in public health, our results regarding the occurrence (level of contamination) and antimicrobial resistance of Enterococcus spp. could provide useful information that aids the risk analysis of antibiotic resistance.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.126-130
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• 2013

The major aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of genes that encode multidrug efflux pumps in Enterococci spp. isolates from bovine milk samples and antibiotic resistance patterns of these strains. Of the 245 isolates, 44.1% showed ampicillin resistance, 79.2% showed erythromycin resistance, 76.3% showed tetracycline resistance and 36.3% showed chloramphenicol resistance. In case of vancomycin and ciprofloxacin, all of the isolates were susceptible to these antibiotics. Of the 245 enterococcal isolates, 82.1% have MFS type eme(A) gene, 72.7% have ABC type efr(A) gene, 77.1% have ABC type efr(B) gene, and 71.8% have ABC type lsa gene. In case of Enterococcus faecalis, the original strain for these genes, 92.5% have eme(A), 87.4% have efr(A), 88.4% have efr(B), and 88.4% have lsa. Interestingly, in case of different species of Enterococci, eme(A) was also detected in four strains of E. faecium, seven strains of E. avium, four strains of E. durans and two strains of E. raffinosus. efr(A) was also detected in two strains of E. faecium and two strains of E. durans and efr(B) was also detected in four strains of E. faecium, five strains of E. avium and four strains of E. durans. This means the possibility of co-transfer of resistance genes between Enterococci species in natural environment. These results are the first report describing the presence of same multidrug efflux pumps in different species of Enterococci in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.148-151
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the erythromycin resistance patterns of Enterococci sp. present in cow milk. A total 110 erythromycin resistant Enterococci were isolated from milk samples; E. faecalis (n=101), E. avium (n=7), and E. durans (n=2). The minimum inhibitory concentration of erythromycin against 110 Enterococci were determined. The 66.3% of Entercocci (n=73) showed high level resistance (${\geq}64$ mg/ml). Among 110 isolates, 86.3% (n=95) showed $cMLS_B$ phenotype and 13.6% (n=15) showed $iMLS_B$ The aim of this study was to investigate the erythromycin resistance patterns of Enterococci sp. present in cow milk. A total 110 erythromycin resistant Enterococci were isolated from milk samples; E. faecalis (n=101), E. avium (n=7), and E. durans (n=2). The minimum inhibitory concentration of erythromycin against 110 Enterococci were determined. The 66.3% of Entercocci (n=73) showed high level resistance (${\geq}64$ mg/ml). Among 110 isolates, 86.3% (n=95) showed $cMLS_B$ phenotype and 13.6% (n=15) showed $iMLS_B$ phenotype. All of isolates have erm(B) determinant, 75.45% (n=83) have mef(A) an efflux system determinant. The majority of Enetrcococci isolated from raw milk samples in northern area of Gyeonggi-Do showed high level of resistance to erythromycin.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1128-1137
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to explore the accuracy and feasibility of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in identifying bacteria from environmental sources, as compared with rpoA gene sequencing, and to evaluate the occurrence of bacteria of the genus Enterococcus in wild birds. In addition, a phyloproteomic analysis of certain Enterococcus species with spectral relationships was performed. The enterococci were isolated from 25 species of wild birds in central Europe (Poland). Proteomic (MALDI-TOF MS) and genomic (rpoA gene sequencing) methods were used to identify all the isolates. Using MALDI-TOF MS, all 54 (100%) isolates were identified as Enterococcus spp. Among these, 51 (94.4%) isolates were identified to the species level (log(score) ${\geq}2.0$), and three isolates (5.6%) were identified at a level of probable genus identification (log(score) 1.88-1.927). Phylogenetic analysis based on rpoA sequences confirmed that all enterococci had been correctly identified. Enterococcus faecalis was the most prevalent enterococcal species (50%) and Enterococcus faecium (33.3%) the second most frequent species, followed by Enterococcus hirae (9.3%), Enterococcus durans (3.7%), and Enterococcus casseliflavus (3.7%). The phyloproteomic analysis of the spectral profiles of the isolates showed that MALDI-TOF MS is able to differentiate among similar species of the genus Enterococcus.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.7-18
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• 2007

A total of 1,780 isolates of Enterococcus spp. were isolated from 63,133 clinical specimens from Dec 1, 2005 to Nov 1, 2006 in "C" hospital. Isolation frequencies of Enterococcus spp. were 50.9% for E. faecalis, 41.7% for E. faecium, and 7.4% for other Enterococcus spp. containing E. avium, E. gallinarum, E. casseliflavus, E. durans, E. hirae, and E. raffinosus. There were no significant difference between gender, but according to the age group analysis, Enterococcus spp. were more frequently isolated in patients over 50 years old (20.0~24.6%) than those isolated from the patients under the age of 0~49 (1.3~9.4%). In monthly analysis, Enterococcus spp. were the most frequently isolated in April (11.9%), but presented at lowest frequency in February (5.2%). Seasonal analysis did not show a significant difference. Over half of enterococci were isolated from random urine (44.9%) and catherterized urine (15.7%). Frequencies of vancomycin resistant E. faecalis and E. faecium were 0.1% and 31.0%, respectively. Teicoplanin resistant Enterococcus was 13.3% in E. faecalis, 17.6 % in E. faecium. The Enterococcus species showing over 80% susceptibility against antimicrobial agents were E. faecalis, E. durans and E. hirae in vancomycin; E. faecalis, E. gallinarum, E. casseliflavus, E. durans and E. hirae in ampicillin. The antimicrobial agent showing susceptibility against whole group of Enterococcus species was only linezolid (95.9%), and a selection of antimicrobial agent is necessary to do essential performance identification and susceptibility tests.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.360-366
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• 2013

This study was it conducted on effluent or river water close to discharge locations from a treatment plant, which were analyzed for the presence, phenotype and antibiotic resistance rates of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE). The test results for isolation and identification of Enterococcus spp. showed that they all were VRE positive, with a total of 32 strains detected. Multiplex PCR was conducted for 32 strains, each of which were identified as E. faecium, and the results indicated that they were all confirmed as VRE, corresponding to the Van A phenotype. The results of E. faecium concentrations measured at various locations indicated that they were, on average, higher at the location of sewage treatment plants. The frequency of positive tests as well as the number of colonies was higher downstream of treatment plants. The minimum inhibitory concentration was inspected for 26 strains of discharged water samples from sewage water treatment plants, and 6 strains of river samples. Out of 19 antibiotics, 14 and 5 species showed resistance and sensitivity, respectively.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.519-527
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• 2021

In this study, the hemolysis of Enterococcus faecalis BMSE-HMP strains, isolated from human breast milk, was investigated, and the anti-hemolytic and antimicrobial effects on multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria were investigated. The enzyme activity of E. faecalis BMSE-HMP 4 strains was measured, and it was found that the activities of esterase and esterase lipase were the highest. In addition, no hemolytic reaction was observed in any of the isolates. Subsequently, the anti-hemolytic activity against MDR strains causing hemolysis was evaluated. E. faecalis BMSE-HMP002 had the highest anti-hemolytic activity against Staphylococcus aureus CCARM 3855 at 75.71 ± 10.00%. The anti-hemolytic activity against Escherichia coli DC 2 CCARM 0238 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCARM 0223 showed that the activity of BMSE-HMP001 was highest at 76.92 ± 2.99% and 87.93 ± 1.93%, respectively. Examination of the antimicrobial effects against the MDR bacteria Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia spp., Pseudomonas spp., Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., and E. faecalis BMSE-HMP strains showed antimicrobial effects against both gram-positive and gram-negative strains. Breastfeeding delivers enterococci into the intestinal tract of newborns by lactation, and its usefulness is attracting attention as it has been reported that enterococci have a potential effect on neonatal immune development. In this study, the hemolytic and antimicrobial effects of E. faecalis BMSE-HMP strains on MDR bacteria were investigated, to confirm their potential as useful lactic acid bacteria. Additional studies on the antibiotic resistance and toxicity of the E. faecalis BMSE-HMP strains, isolated in this study, are necessary to prove it safe for use.