ARS | Publication request: CHARACTERIZATION OF GLYCOPEPTIDE-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCUS FAECIUM ISOLATED FROM A SEMI-CLOSED VERTICALLY INTEGRATED POPULATION OF HUMANS AND SWINE IN THE UNITED STATES

Submitted to: Annual Conference of Antimicrobial Resistance
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 4, 2005
Publication Date: June 27, 2005
Citation: Poole, T.L., Hume, M.E., Campbell, L.D., Scott, H.M., Alali, W.Q., Harvey, R.B. 2005. Characterization of glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolated from a semi-closed vertically integrated population of humans and swine in the United States [abstract]. Annual Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance. p. 35.

Technical Abstract: Background: Glycopeptide resistant Enterococcus faecium (GREF) have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens, but have rarely been isolated outside of a hospital setting in the United States (2). A longitudinal epidemiological study of sewage effluents from a semi-closed vertically integrated population of humans and swine in Texas resulted in the isolation of GREF from the human community. Methods: E. faecium isolates were identified and speciated by standard microbiological methods and PCR, respectively (1). Heterogeneity of the isolates was determined by PCR, Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and PCR fragment length polymorphism analysis. Results: Fifty GREF were obtained from human sewage effluent at multiple locations, including swine workers dormitories, from 2002 to present. To date no GREF have been isolated from swine fecal samples. Forty-nine of the VREF carried the vanA glycopeptide resistance gene cluster and one carried the vanB gene cluster. There were 21 pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types. PCR fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed the presence of an insertion sequence (IS1251) in 33 isolates. Conclusions: In the study population over a two year period clonal and non-clonal strains of GREF were identified from swine workers sewage effluent. IS1251 has only been described in human GREF isolates in the U.S. There was no apparent dissemination of GREF from humans to swine. This is the first known community isolation of GREF in the U.S.