Identification of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus Genes in Clinical Isolates

Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) nosocomial diseases are rapidly spreading across the world. To treat these diseases is becoming a great challenge due to antibiotic resistance. The present study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of vancomycin resistant enterococci and to find out genes responsible for causing vancomycin resistance. One hundred different blood, wound and urine samples were collected from hospitalized patients at tertiary care health hospital, Lahore. On the basis of colony morphology, isolates of Enterococci were identified, Gram staining and biochemical tests including catalase test, Bile esculin test, growth in 6.5% NaCl, litmus milk reduction were performed. All the clinical isolates were checked for vancomycin resistant and 15% of all the samples were vancomycin resistant. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for vancomycin resistance, enterococcal isolates to identify van genes responsible for resistance. In our study the presence of vanA gene was found in all 15 vancomycin resistant samples. vanB gene was not detected in any of the sample. The study highlights the increased VRE prevalence in clinicalisolates obtained from local hospital. The presence of vanA gene in all resistant samples is suggestive of its role as resistant gene. On the basis of these results there is an urgent need of establishing a rational antibiotic use policy for better management of enterococcal infections.