Antimicrobial Resistance Rates of Enterococcus Strains Isolated from Various Clinical Specimens

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance rates of Enterococcus strains isolated from various clinical specimens obtained from the patients admitted to our hospital between November 2011 and November 2012.Materials and MethodsOf the 117 strains studied, 62 (53%) were Enterococcus faecium and 55 (47%) were Enterococcus faecalis. The antibiotic susceptibility of isolated strains were defined according to the criteria of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.ResultsA total of 97% of the strains were found to be resistant to ampicillin, 47% were resistant to ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin. Five strains were found intermediate or resistant to linezolid. No resistance was shown to vancomycin, teicoplanin, and tigecycline. High level resistance to gentamycin was observed in 42% and to streptomisin in 53% of isolates.ConclusionIn the present study, E. faecalis isolates were determined to be more resistant to all antibiotic evaluated, however, no significant differences were found between two species in terms of resistance (p>0.05 for each antibiotic). Data provided by our study may be directive for treatment choise in cases with enterococci-caused infections.

Keywords

• enterococcus faecalis
• enterococcus faecium
• antibiotic resistance