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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 1998, p. 2187-2190, Vol. 36, No. 8
0095-1137/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Emergence of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Australia: Phenotypic and Genotypic Characteristics of Isolates

Jan M. Bell,1,* James C. Paton,2 and John Turnidge1

National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program at Women's and Children's Hospital1 and Molecular Microbiology Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital,2 North Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia

Received 29 January 1998/Returned for modification 12 March 1998/Accepted 24 April 1998

Enterococci with resistance to glycopeptides have recently emerged in Australia. We developed multiplex PCR assays for vanA, vanB, vanC1, and vanC2 or vanC3 in order to examine the genetic basis for vancomycin resistance in Australian isolates of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and E. faecalis (VRE). The predominant genotype from human clinical E. faecium isolates was vanB. The PCR van genotype was consistent with the resistance phenotype in all but six cases. One vanA E. faecalis isolate had a VanB phenotype, one vanB E. faecium isolate had a VanA phenotype, and four E. faecalis isolates were consistently negative for vanA, vanB, vanC1, and vanC2 or vanC3, even though they exhibited a VanB phenotype. These four isolates were subsequently examined for the presence of vanD by published methods and were found to be negative. No vancomycin-susceptible strains produced a PCR product. On the basis of our findings the epidemiology of VRE in Australia appears to be different from that in either the United States or Europe. Our multiplex PCR assays gave a rapid and accurate method for determining the genotype and confirming the identification of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci. Rapid and accurate methods are essential, because laboratory-based surveillance is critical in programs for the detection, control, and prevention of the transmission of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department, Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Rd., North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia. Phone: 61-8 8204 6359. Fax: 61-8 8204 6051. E-mail: bellj{at}mail.wch.sa.gov.au.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 1998, p. 2187-2190, Vol. 36, No. 8
0095-1137/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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