Multidrug Resistance and Virulence Factors of Enterococci Isolated from Milk and Some Dairy Desserts

Background: Enterococci spp. bacteria especially Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium have the ability to acquire antibiotic-resistance pattern and causing life-threatening hospital-acquired infections. So, the aim of this study was to count and isolate of E. faecalis and E. faecium from milk and dairy desserts consumed in Assiut city, Egypt. Methods: A total of ۱۰۰ raw milk, ice cream, mehallabia, and milk rice samples were collected from dairies shop in Assiut city, Egypt and were bacteriologically examined for the presence and count of Enterococcus spp. Then, identification of enterococci isolates by conventional and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods, performance of antibiotic sensitivity assay, and some virulence genes in the Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) isolates were identified. Results: The prevalence of counted Enterococcus spp. in raw milk, ice cream, mehallabia, and milk rice samples were ۷۶, ۴۴, ۲۰, and ۳۲%, respectively. The prevalence of E. faecalis in raw milk, ice cream, mehallabia, and milk rice samples were ۶۴, ۰, ۰, and ۸%, while for E. faecium were ۱۲, ۴۴, ۲۰, and ۲۴%, respectively. E. faecalis isolates were resistant to vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin, and tetracycline with the rate of ۷۲.۲, ۸۸.۹, ۸۸.۹, ۹۴.۴, and ۷۷.۸%, respectively, while for the resistance rates of E. faecium were ۱۶, ۴۰, ۱۶, ۸۴, and ۲۰%, respectively. E. faecalis and E. faecium were MDR in rate of ۸۸.۹ and ۳۲%, respectively. Conclusion: This study revealed that milk, ice cream, mehallabia, and milk rice could be a source of enterococci to consumers in Assiut, Egypt. Moreover, E. faecalis had higher MDR and Resistant Index (RI) than E. faecium. DOI: ۱۰.۱۸۵۰۲/jfqhc.۹.۴.۱۱۳۷۶

Keywords:

Milk , Dairy Products , Enterococcus , Drug Resistance , Microbial , Egypt