ABSTRACT Enterococci are ubiquitous bacteria that frequently occur in various types of foods, especially of animal origin. They have engaged as major nosocomial pathogens and their ability to acquire resistance to some antimicrobial agents of relevance for human therapy, particularly vancomycin, is of concern for public health. The food chain represents a possible source of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).The aim of this survey was to evaluate the occurrence of VRE in 103 samples of foods of animal origin (57 meat and meat products and 46 dairy products),obtained at retail level in Tuscany. The enterococci isolates were identified and studied for their resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin by minimal inibhiting concentration (MIC) test and E test, and for the presence of glycopeptide resistance genotype vanA. About 75% of samples harboured enterococci. Three meat products (3.7% of samples positive for enterococci) resulted contaminated by VRE. All VRE belonged to species Enterococcus faecium and showed MIC values for vancomycin and teicoplanin of ³ 256 and ³ 128 mg/ml, respectively, suggesting a glycopeptide resistance of the vanA type, as confirmed by PCR assay. The survey represents the only attempt to assess the prevalence of VRE in food of animal origin in Tuscany.
Occurrence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in foods of animal origin purchased in Tuscany
PEDONESE, FRANCESCA;NUVOLONI, ROBERTA;D'ASCENZI, CARLO;CERRI, DOMENICO;RINDI, SALVO
2005-01-01
Abstract
ABSTRACT Enterococci are ubiquitous bacteria that frequently occur in various types of foods, especially of animal origin. They have engaged as major nosocomial pathogens and their ability to acquire resistance to some antimicrobial agents of relevance for human therapy, particularly vancomycin, is of concern for public health. The food chain represents a possible source of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).The aim of this survey was to evaluate the occurrence of VRE in 103 samples of foods of animal origin (57 meat and meat products and 46 dairy products),obtained at retail level in Tuscany. The enterococci isolates were identified and studied for their resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin by minimal inibhiting concentration (MIC) test and E test, and for the presence of glycopeptide resistance genotype vanA. About 75% of samples harboured enterococci. Three meat products (3.7% of samples positive for enterococci) resulted contaminated by VRE. All VRE belonged to species Enterococcus faecium and showed MIC values for vancomycin and teicoplanin of ³ 256 and ³ 128 mg/ml, respectively, suggesting a glycopeptide resistance of the vanA type, as confirmed by PCR assay. The survey represents the only attempt to assess the prevalence of VRE in food of animal origin in Tuscany.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
