Linezolid resistance in Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis from hospitalized patients in Ireland: high prevalence of the MDR genes optrA and poxtA in isolates with diverse genetic backgrounds.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence of the optrA, poxtA and cfr linezolid resistance genes in linezolid-resistant enterococci from Irish hospitals and to characterize associated plasmids.

Methods

One hundred and fifty-four linezolid-resistant isolates recovered in 14 hospitals between June 2016 and August 2019 were screened for resistance genes by PCR. All isolates harbouring resistance genes, and 20 without, underwent Illumina MiSeq WGS. Isolate relatedness was assessed using enterococcal whole-genome MLST. MinION sequencing (Oxford Nanopore) and hybrid assembly were used to resolve genetic environments/plasmids surrounding resistance genes.

Results

optrA and/or poxtA were identified in 35/154 (22.7%) isolates, the highest prevalence reported to date. Fifteen is

SUBMITTER: Egan SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7303821 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature