Development of a strain-specific PCR as a diagnostic tool for surveillance, detection, and monitoring of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium during outbreak.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) poses a significant concern in healthcare settings, particularly during outbreaks. Traditional antibiotic susceptibility testing may fail to detect occult vancomycin resistance, and long culture times delay diagnosis. While whole genome sequencing (WGS) is the most accurate method for tracing infectious disease transmissions, its response times are not rapid enough to optimally support controlling of ongoing outbreaks. To address this limitation, we investigated the genomic diversity among outbreak isolates and developed outbreak-specific PCR tests for rapid VREfm carrier screening using strain-specific biomarkers identified through comparative genomics.

Materials and methods

Total DNA from VREfm isolates was seq

SUBMITTER: Sabat AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11934601 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature