چكيده لاتين :
Background: Enterococci faecalis are predominating species
of Enterococci causing nosocomial infections. Acquisition of
resistance to antibacterial agents, and ability to transfer the resistant
genes made them clinically important. This study was
performed to determine the frequency of isolation of different
species of Enterococci, and the antibacterial resistance pattern
of the isolated species.
Methods: Enterococcal species were isolated from clinical
samples. In vitro susceptibility of the isolates to 10 antibacterial
agents was tested by standard methods and ~-Iactamase production
was detected using starch-iodide method.
Results: 100 Enterococci were isolated from 585 different
clinical samples. 73% of the isolates were E. faecalis. ]3% E.
faecium and 14% which were not identified as either one,
were regarded as other enterococcal species. Highest rate of
resistance (98% or more) was found for oxacillin and penicillin
while vancomycin and chloramphenicol were among the
most active agents. Resistance to antibacterial agents was
more common for E. [aecium and p-Iactamase production was
found in 8]% of the isolates.
Conclusion: E. faecalis was the dominant species, with the
higher rate of p-Iactamase production. E. [aecium was more
resistant to antibacterial agents as compared to other isolates.
80% of the isolates had multiple drug resistance phenotypes
(MDR). Low-level resistance to vancomycin (intermediate
reaction in disk diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentrations
range (GREATER THAN )4-16 ( MU)G.ML ) and presence of MDR isolates
is very important and should be considered as an danger alarm
for serious enterococcal infections.
