Abstract:
This study aimed for molecular detection of vancomycin resistant genes
(vanA and vanB) and more common virulence factors in Enterococcus
faecalis isolated from different clinical specimens in Police University
Hospital, in Khartoum State. A total of 46 samples were collected 24 (52%)
urine, 14 (31%) wound swab and 8 (17%) blood) samples were collected in
this study. Samples were cultured on blood agar and bacteria were
identified by the conventional biochemical methods. Modified Kirby-Bauer
method was used for sensitivity testing by using the following antibiotics:
ampicillin, nitrourantoin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin and augmantin. A total
of 91.3% of the isolates were sensitive to nitrofurantoin, 54.3% were
sensitive to ampicillin, and 63%, 56.5% and 34.8% were resistance to
ciprofloxacin, augmentin and vancomycin respectively. Boiling method was
used for DNA extraction, and multiplex PCR was conducted to detect
virulence genes (gelE, asa1, esp, hyl and cylA) and vancomycin resistance
genes (vanA and vanB) in Enterococcus faecalis isolates. The majority of
Enterococcus faecalis had gelE (58.7%) followed by asa1 (38.8%) and hyl
(10.9%), while cylA and esp genes were not detected in the isolates. VanB
represent 10.9% of isolate and vanA was not detected. As a conclusion, the
gelE was the most dominant gene in Enterococcus faecalis. Also
nitrofurantoin has been found to be the best effective antibiotic for treating
enterococcal UTI. And there were no significant association between
virulence genes and vancomycin resistance and also clinical specimen
