Molecular identification of Enterococcus faecalis and evaluation of multiple drug resistance in isolated strains from clinical samples in hospitals and health centers of Marand and Tabriz city, Iran

Background and aim: Enterococcus is an important and various group of bacteria causing disease in human being and animal. In two recent decades, Enterococcus has had extended resistance to some of antibiotics and this has caused complexities in infection treatment of these bacterial. This study aimed to determine multiple resistance in Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from clinical samples in hospitals and health centers of Marand and Tabriz City. Materials and methods: 200 Enterococcus samples were collected from hospitals and health centers of Marand and Tabriz. Enterococcus species were identified by common standard phenotype and PCR methods. Susceptibility test to antibiotics was performed based on standard diffusion method CLSI. Drug resistance (MIC) was performed by E-test method on vancomycin-resistant samples. Results: Of 200 isolate samples, 100 Enterococcus faecalis samples were identified. susceptibility test results to antibiotics showed that Enterococcus faecalis had highest resistance to peniciline (83%), tetracycline (43%) and ciprofloxacin (41) and the highest susceptibility to linezolid (87%), Imipenem (85%) and Teicoplanin (70%). MIC for vancomycin-resistant samples was ranging 32 to 256 µg. Multiple drug phenotype (resistance to three or more than three antibiotic classes) was observed in 30 strains. Conclusion: The resistance to some antibiotics and high resistance to vancomycin are considered in Enterococcus faecalis strains as the selection of good treatment for infections by Enterococcus is reduced.

Enterococcus faecalis, vancomycin-resistance Enterococcus, Multiple drug resistance