Molecular Detection of Vancomycin Resistant Genes (vanA and vanB) and Selecting Virulence Factors of Enterococcus faecalis Isolated from Clinical Specimens at Police University Hospital in Khartoum State

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