Genetic analysis of vancomycin-variable Enterococcus faecium clinical isolates in Italy.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To investigate the occurrence of vancomycin-variable enterococci (VVE) in a hospital in central Italy.

Methods

vanA positive but vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium isolates (VVE-S) were characterized by antibiotic susceptibility tests, molecular typing (PFGE and MLST), and WGS approach. The reversion of VVE-S to a resistant phenotype was assessed by exposure to increasing vancomycin concentrations, and the revertant isolates were used in filter mating experiments. qPCR was used to analyze the plasmid copy number.

Results

Eleven putative VVE-S were selected. WGS revealed two categories of vanA cluster plasmid located: the first type showed the lack of vanR, the deletion of vanS, and an intact vanH/vanA/vanX cluster; the second type was devoid of both v

SUBMITTER: Coccitto SN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10965585 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature