Emergence of pstS-Null Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium Clone ST1478, Canada, 2013–2018

Abstract

Rates of vancomycin-resistant enterococci bloodstream infections have remained relatively low in Canada. We recently observed an increase of 113% in these infections rates, which coincided with emergence of Enterococcus faecium pstS-null sequence type 1478. The proportion of this sequence type increased from 2.7% to 38.7% for all tested isolates from 2013–2018.

Keywords

• emergence
• antimicrobial resistance
• Enterococcus faecium
• bacteria
• vancomycin
• pstS-null vancomycin-resistant clone ST1478