Isolation of Enterococcus species from infectious skin lesions

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

• Enterococcus species are significant opportunistic pathogens.
• Secondary infections, such as those from ulcers and decubitus, are common sites for Enterococcus isolation.
• Understanding the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Enterococcus species is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency and sources of Enterococcus faecalis isolation in secondary infections.
• To compare the antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of different antimicrobial agents against isolated Enterococcus strains.

Main Methods:

• Bacterial isolation and identification from clinical samples (ulcer/decubitus infections).
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of isolated Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium strains.
• Analysis of antimicrobial effectiveness, focusing on penicillins and erythromycin.

Main Results:

• Enterococcus faecalis was isolated in 70% of cases, predominantly from secondary infections like ulcers.
• Seven sole/predominant E. faecalis isolates were identified.
• Penicillins demonstrated greater efficacy against E. faecalis than E. faecium.
• Higher antimicrobial sensitivities were observed for E. faecalis compared to E. faecium.
• Some E. faecalis strains exhibited sensitivity to erythromycin, possibly due to reduced resistance mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• Enterococcus faecalis is a frequent causative agent in secondary infections.
• Penicillin-based therapies may be more effective for E. faecalis infections compared to E. faecium.
• Accurate characterization of Enterococcus species is essential for selecting appropriate antimicrobial treatments.
• Further investigation into resistance mechanisms, particularly for erythromycin sensitivity, is warranted.