• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.470-476
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• 2007

To evaluate the vancomycin resistance of Enterococcus spp. (VRE) from Saengsik and Sunsik, Enterococcus were isolated and identified from 25 Saengsik and 35 Sunsik samples, and resistance of Enterococcus to other antibiotics was also assessed. Thirty nine Enterococcus, 16 strains from Saengsik, and 23 strains from Sunsik, were ultimately isolated. The most frequently collected Enterococcus isolates in Saengsik were E. casseliflavus and E. hirae, and were E. casseliflavus and E. faecium in Sunsik. However, E. faecalis was not detected in those foods. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of vancomycin against the isolates were below $4\;{\mu}g/mL$ and no strains evidenced profound levels of resistance. The isolates were found to be susceptible to vancomycin with the exception of eight E. casseliflavus and three E. gallinarum. All Enterococcus isolates proved resistant to streptomycin and chloramphenicol. 23% of the isolates were resistant to penicillin; however, all of the isolates were sensitive to tetracycline. Six and 48%, respectively, of the strains from the Saengsik and Sunsik proved resistant to erythromycin. All of E. mundtii and E. hirae isolates from Saengsik, and 20% of E. gallinarum and E. casseliflavus isolates from Sunsik were found to be ampicillin-resistant. All of E. gallinarum, E. casseliflavus, and E. faecium were rifampin-resistant. The antibiotic resistances of Enterococcus were relatively low, and this low vancomycin resistance was similar to that evidenced by Enterococcus isolates obtained from the other foods. However, there may be a need for some review of the accepted antibiotics criteria for Enterococcus and VRE in ready-to-eat foods.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.7-18
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• 2007

A total of 1,780 isolates of Enterococcus spp. were isolated from 63,133 clinical specimens from Dec 1, 2005 to Nov 1, 2006 in "C" hospital. Isolation frequencies of Enterococcus spp. were 50.9% for E. faecalis, 41.7% for E. faecium, and 7.4% for other Enterococcus spp. containing E. avium, E. gallinarum, E. casseliflavus, E. durans, E. hirae, and E. raffinosus. There were no significant difference between gender, but according to the age group analysis, Enterococcus spp. were more frequently isolated in patients over 50 years old (20.0~24.6%) than those isolated from the patients under the age of 0~49 (1.3~9.4%). In monthly analysis, Enterococcus spp. were the most frequently isolated in April (11.9%), but presented at lowest frequency in February (5.2%). Seasonal analysis did not show a significant difference. Over half of enterococci were isolated from random urine (44.9%) and catherterized urine (15.7%). Frequencies of vancomycin resistant E. faecalis and E. faecium were 0.1% and 31.0%, respectively. Teicoplanin resistant Enterococcus was 13.3% in E. faecalis, 17.6 % in E. faecium. The Enterococcus species showing over 80% susceptibility against antimicrobial agents were E. faecalis, E. durans and E. hirae in vancomycin; E. faecalis, E. gallinarum, E. casseliflavus, E. durans and E. hirae in ampicillin. The antimicrobial agent showing susceptibility against whole group of Enterococcus species was only linezolid (95.9%), and a selection of antimicrobial agent is necessary to do essential performance identification and susceptibility tests.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.714-720
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• 2012

To evaluate the antibiotic risk of $Enterococcus$ in fermented soy paste, $Enterococcus$ spp. were isolated and identified from 31 $Cheongkukjang$ and 17 $Doenjang$, samples. Exactly 123 $Enterococcus$ spp., 119 from $Cheongkukjang$ and four from $Doenjang$, were ultimately isolated. The most frequently collected $Enterococcus$ isolates in $Cheongkukjang$ were 69 strains of $E.$ $faecium$ and 20 strains of $E.$ $faecalis$. All four $Enterococcus$ spp. from $Deonjang$ were identified as $E.$ $faecium$. All isolates were sensitive to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, penicillin, and tetracyclin $E.$ However, they showed broad spectra from sensitivity to resistance to erythromycin, ripampin, and streptomycin. Vancomycin minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of $Enterococcus$ spp. from $Cheongkukjang$ ranged from 0.25 to 8 ${\mu}g/mL$. Almost all strains were sensitive to vancomycin, but eight strains showed intermediate resistance to vancomycin. Seventeen strains showing the highest MIC of 8 ${\mu}g/mL$ among all isolates were evenly distributed among $E.$ $faecalis$, $E.$ $faecium$, $E.$ $gallinarum$, and $E.$ $casselifalvus$, in which the strong resistant genes of $van$A and $van$B for vancomycin were not detected. Overall antibiotic resistance of $Enterococcus$ isolates was relatively low and particularly low vancomycin resistance was similar to those of $Enterococcus$ isolates obtained from other foods. Therefore, the antibiotics resistance of $Enterococcus$ and especially vancomycin-resistant $Enterococcus$ spp. from $Cheongkukjang$ and $Doenjang$, is not hazardous.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2013

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged as important healthcare-associated infection since last two decades. ChromID VRE agar (cIDVA) is useful for VRE rectal swab screening. We investigated all VRE were isolated on the cIDVA. A total of 363 rectal swabs of 85 patients to test VRE screening were inoculated into bile-esculin (B-E) broth with $6{\mu}g/mL$ vancomycin. After 24 hours incubation, we subcultured B-E broths were changed to black onto cIDVA. All isolates were identified by the MICROSCAN and VITEK2. The vanA gene and vancomycin minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) were detected by PCR and E-test respectively. 277 E. faecium (84.7%), 16 E. faecalis (4.9%), 25 E. avium (7.6%), 8 E. gallinarum (2.4%) and 1 E. raffinosus (0.3%) were isolated. 10.3% of VRE detected on cIDVA were other than E. faecium and E. faecalis that presented various color from colorless to pale violet. All isolates contained vanA and vancomycin MIC were > $256{\mu}g/mL$. VRE isolates other than E. faecium and E. faecalis should be objective to the contact precautions for healthcare-associated infection control if they possess vanA gene. Due to emerging enterococci carrying vanA such as E. avium, E. gallinarum, and E. raffinosus, VRE surveillance should be expanded to all isolates on chromogenic agar.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.124-132
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the photosensitizer photogem with light-emitting diode (LED) on vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Two VRE strains isolated from the feces of patients. that was identificated Enterococcus faecium (vanA) and Enterococcus gallinarum (vanC1) using traditional biochemical tests and confirmed VRE genotyping from using polymerase chain reaction. In addition, three strains were used Enterococcus. faecalis CDC-286 (vanA), E. faecalis CDC-583 (vanB) and E. gallinarum CDC-42 (vanC1). To examine the antimicrobial effect of photogem mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) against, CFU quantification and Disk diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility test were evaluated. The effects of Photodynamic therapy was not associated with genotype. Photogem mediated PDT perfectly inhibited the colony formation of E. faecalis CDC-286. The number of viable bacteria decreased greatly after PDT application with photogem $50{\mu}g/mL$ and energy density of $15J/cm^2$. The diameter of inhibition zone was increased to after PDT more than before PDT. The case of vancomycin disc on E. faecalis CDC-583 and E. galinanum-Patient were changed from resistant to intermediate resistant, from intermediate resistant to susceptable. These results demonstrate that lethal photosensitization of VRE can be achieved using photogem plus 630 nm LED irradiation.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2010

From April to December in 2009, microbial investigation is accomplished for 100 frozen foods asked to microbial control team that corresponds with total aerobic viable bacteria, coliform group, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp. and antibiotic resistance patterns of Enterococcus spp. isolates are investigated. Average of total erobic viable bacteria numbers is $4.3{\times}10^4CFU/g$. Average of coliform group numbers is $4.3{\times}10^3CFU/g$. Average f Enterococcus spp. numbers is $1.8{\times}10^3CFU/g$. Escherichia coli from 100 frozen foods is not detected and detection ate is 0.0%. 22 Enterococcus spp. are isolated from 100 frozen foods. 12 of 22 Enterococcus spp. strains are identified as E. faecium. 7 of 22 Enterococcus spp. strains are identified as E. faecalis. 2 of 22 Enterococcus spp. trains are identified as E. gallinarum. 1 of 22 Enterococcus spp. strains is identified as E. hirae. Enterococcus spp. solates show a high resistance to erythromycin, rifampin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, chlorampenicol, penicillin and susceptibility to vancomycin, ampicillin, gentamicin, strepomycin, linezolid. 15 of 22 Enterococcus spp. strains are multi-resistant and the most frequent multi-resistant pattern is erythromycin-rifampin for 6 Enterococcus spp. strains.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2017

The study was performed to investigate the bacteriological contamination of portable digital radiography system and their detectors in a university hospital. CNS and VRE were detected in the samples collected from vinyl cover on detectors used for the infection control patients. On the other hand, no bacteria was detected in the samples collected from detectors with vinyl cover removed. In the series of imaging of patients from general wards, no bacteria was detected from the patient 1. However, CNS was detected from the patients 2 and 3, CNS and Enterococcus faecalis detected from the patient 4, CNS and Enterococcus casseliflavus detected from the patient 5, and CNS, Enterococcus casseliflavus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae all detected from the patient 6. CNS and Enterococcus faecium were detected in the controller handle of collimator. Also, CNS was detected from the handle of detector and exposure switch. In the treatment gloves of the radiological technologist after the imaging, CNS, Enterococcus gallinarum, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were detected. Therefore, it is recommended for DR portable to take images after sterilizing the detector after taking each image and to use disposable vinyl covers on detectors to remove after imaging. And treatment gloves must be changed after each imaging. Also, hospital infection via portables must be prevented by complete sterilization of the controller handles of collimator which are in frequent contact during imaging and infection education of employees.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.401-406
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• 2017

In this study, using the VITEK 2 system, 74 samples (22.6%) out of 327 specimens were identified by the growth of Enterococcosel media (EV6 agar) supplemented with $6{\mu}g/mL$ of vancomycin. Enterococcus faecium was identified as 55 strains (74.3%), Enterococcus casseliflavus as 2 strains (2.7%), Enterococcus avium as 1 strain (1.4%), and Enterococcus gallinarum as 16 strains (21.6%). Among the 55 phenotypes of Enterococcus faecium, 42 (76.4%), 9 (16.4%), and 4 strains (7.3%) showed the vanA, vanB, and vanC phenotype, respectively. The 16 strains of Enterococcus gallinarum and 2 strains of Enterococcus casseliflavus showed the vanC phenotype and the 1 strain of Enterococcus avium had the vanB phenotype. The one strain of Enterococcus faecium propagated only in EV4 and was susceptible to both vancomycin and teicoplanin according to the antimicrobial susceptibility test using the VITEK 2 system. The vancomycin resistance phenotype gene was not detected by PCR. A total of 327 specimens were cultured in Enterococcosel broth supplemented with $6{\mu}g/mL$ of vancomycin (EV6 broth), and 120 strains (36.7%) were isolated. These 120 strains were subjected to vancomycin resistant genotyping by a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction and 51 strains (42.5%) showed vanA; 5 strains (4.2%) showed vanA and vanC; and 18 strains (15%) showed vanC. Vancomycin resistance genotypes were not detected in the remaining 46 strains (38.3%).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.520-525
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• 2023

This study aimed to detect Enterococcus spp. strain, a fecal contamination indicator, by PCR assay from short neck clams Venerupis philippinarum in Cheonsu Bay area, Chu Island area and Wonsan Island area, the west coast of Korea, from November 2022 to February 2023 of Enterococcus spp. strain was detected in 19 (79.2%) among 24 samples, and its concentration ranged from <18 to 33,000 MPN (most probable number)/100 g. The 269 isolated Enterococcus spp. strains were identified by PCR assay, and Enterococcus spp. distribution in short neck clams were E. faecium (39.8%), E. faecalis (23.0%), E. hirae (21.9%), E. gallinarum (10.4%), E. casseliflavus (1.5%), E. durans (1.5%) and unidentified strains (1.9%). Thus, E. faecium was the most dominant strain followed by E. faecalis. Overall, these results provide novel insight into the necessity for shellfish sanitation in the sea and could help reduce the fecal contamination risk.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2003

A multiplex PCR assay, which allows simultaneous detection of vancomycin resistant genotypes and Enterococcus species-specific genes, was developed. Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) from chickens and humans could be detected for vanA, vanB, vanC-1, vanC-2, $ddl_{E.faecium}$ and $ddl_{E.faecalis}$ by multiplex PCR. Eight isolates of VRE from humans (n=11) had $ddl_{E.faecium}$ and vanA, and 3 isolates of the VRE had $ddl_{E.faecium}$ and vanB. One isolate of VRE from chickens (n=6) had $ddl_{E.faecium}$ and vanA, and 5 isolates of the VRE had only vanA. E. faecium, E. faecalis, E. gallinarum and E. casseliflavus were also confirmed for the species-specific gene by multiplex PCR. This multiplex PCR could detect E. faecium, E. faecalis, E. gallinarum, E. casseliflavus, vanA, vanB, vanC-1 and vanC-2, simultaneously. The PCR assay established in the present study can be an alternative to time-consuming biochemical tests and antibiotic susceptibility tests of Enterococcus spp.