Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern for Enterococcus species colonizing the GIT of hospitalized and community patients

To determine the species of Enterococcus prevalent in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of patients in hospitals and community and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern for the isolates.

Enterococcus species were isolated from stools and rectal swabs using selective media. Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern for 9 antibiotics were evaluated by Kirby-Bauer's disc diffusion method. Phenotypic characterization of vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) isolate was done by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to vancomycin and teicoplanin by agar dilution method.

Enterococcus species were isolated from gastrointestinal tracts among 74.4% of hospitalized patients and 90% of community patients. E. faecium was the frequent species isolated from both patients. Hospitalized patients had lesser number of other unusual Enterococcus species. Resistance to antibiotics was higher among isolates from hospitalized patients and 1.49% of hospitalized patients showed colonization with VanB phenotype VRE.

Gastrointestinal carriage of antibiotic resistant enterococci including VRE among hospitalized patients mandates the need for periodic surveillance among high risk patients in order to prevent infections and dissemination.