Toloe Moazami - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
Afsaneh Karmostaji - Infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran

Introduction and Objectives: The genus Enterococcus as enteric gram-positive cocci, is one of the most important nosocomial multidrug-resistant organisms. Isolation of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is increasingly reported from around the world. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was performed on clinical samples of hospitalized patients in different wards at Payambare-azam hospital in 2017. Results: Ninety-one clinical isolates of enterococci including E. faecalis (n=14) and E. faecium (n= 9) were examined for the presence of vanA, vanB, vanC and ddl genes by a PCR. sixty-three (69%) of isolates recovered from urine sample. The highest number of isolates (26%) were recovered from intensive care unit. Seventeen percent of isolates were vancomycin-resistant. The ddl primers yielded a product of 941 bp for E.faecalis and 550 bp for E. faecium. VanA and vanC were detected in 7(8%) and vanB in 9 (10%) of isolates. The distribution of resistance genes based on different species was as follows. VanA and vanB gens in 1 isolate of E.faecalis (1.1%) and E.faecium. VanC in 2 isolate of E.faecalis (2.2%). None of the E.faecium was carriers of the vanc. Conclusion: These findings suggest that multidrug-resistant Enterococcus with transferable vancomycin resistance genes will emerge as important nosocomial pathogens.

Enterococcus, Vancomycin resistance, VanA ligase protein.