Screening fecal enterococci from Greek healthy infants for susceptibility to antimicrobial agents

Microb Drug Resist. 2012 Dec;18(6):578-85. doi: 10.1089/mdr.2012.0028. Epub 2012 Jul 24.

Abstract

Enterococci are among the first lactic acid bacteria to colonize the neonatal gastrointestinal tract, but they are also characterized as significant nosocomial pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of antibiotic resistance in enterococci isolated from neonates' gut microbiota as well as the presence of genetic determinants encoding for certain antibiotic resistance traits. A total of 263 fecal samples derived from 97 infants were collected on day 4, 30, and 90 after delivery. Enterococcus faecalis was the most frequently identified species (54.6%) followed by E. faecium, while E. casseliflavus/E. flavescens and E. gallinarum were also traced. The isolates were examined for their resistance to 12 antibiotics. Rifampicin resistance was the highest observed (53.2%), followed by resistance to tetracycline (42.0%), erythromycin (35.7%), and vancomycin (11.2%). Multiresistant strains were highly prevalent. Only intrinsic vancomycin resistance (vanC1 and vanC2/C3) was traced. The ermB gene was detected in 49 out of 96 erythromycin-resistant isolates, while tet genes were detected in 51 out of 113 tetracycline-resistant strains, with tet(L) being the most frequently observed. In conclusion, antibiotic-resistant enterococci are already established in the fecal microbiota of healthy neonates, from the first days of an infant's life.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Enterococcus / drug effects*
  • Enterococcus / genetics
  • Enterococcus / isolation & purification
  • Enterococcus faecalis / drug effects
  • Enterococcus faecalis / genetics
  • Enterococcus faecalis / isolation & purification
  • Enterococcus faecium / drug effects
  • Enterococcus faecium / genetics
  • Enterococcus faecium / isolation & purification
  • Feces / microbiology*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / prevention & control
  • Greece
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Metagenome / genetics
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Neonatal Screening

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents