Strains of glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium can alter their van genotypes during an outbreak

J Clin Microbiol. 1997 Nov;35(11):2966-8. doi: 10.1128/jcm.35.11.2966-2968.1997.

Abstract

Two isolates of Enterococcus faecium with VanA glycopeptide resistance were isolated during a hospital outbreak of E. faecium with plasmid-mediated VanB resistance. Both were found to be identical to the VanB outbreak strain by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The genotype of this strain changed from vanB to vanA through an intermediate isolate that contained both the vanA and vanB gene clusters on distinct plasmids.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Carbon-Oxygen Ligases / biosynthesis
  • Carbon-Oxygen Ligases / genetics
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology*
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial
  • Enterococcus faecium* / classification
  • Enterococcus faecium* / drug effects
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Genotype
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods
  • Multigene Family
  • Plasmids
  • Teicoplanin / pharmacology
  • Vancomycin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • VanA ligase, Bacteria
  • VanB protein, Enterococcus
  • Teicoplanin
  • Vancomycin
  • Carbon-Oxygen Ligases