First characterization of a cluster of VanA-type glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium, Colombia

Diana Panesso, Sigifredo Ospina, Jaime Robledo, María Claudia Vela, Julieta Peña, Orville Hernández, Jinnethe Reyes, César A. Arias

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

From August 1998 to October 1999, glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE) were isolated from 23 infected patients at a teaching hospital in Medellin, Colombia. Identification at the species level and by multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay indicated that all isolates were Enterococcus faecium. The isolates were highly resistant to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, penicillin, streptomycin, teicoplanin, and vancomycin; they were susceptible only to chloramphenicol, linezolid, and nitrofurantoin. Determination of glycopeptide genotype indicated the presence of the vanA gene in all isolates. Molecular typing by pulsed field gel electrophoresis showed that all isolates were closely related. This study is the first molecular characterization of GRE in Colombia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)961-965
Number of pages5
JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases
Volume8
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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