Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Amikacin Protection Assay for Quantification and Visualization of Escherichia coli Cell Invasion
09:22

Amikacin Protection Assay for Quantification and Visualization of Escherichia coli Cell Invasion

Published on: July 3, 2026

Surveillance of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus in hospitals in Ibaraki prefecture

Tsuyoshi Oishi1, Shigemi Hitomi, Shunsuke Shibuya

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo Medical University Kasumigaura Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan.

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy : Official Journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy
|May 26, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) carrying vanC genotypes were identified in Ibaraki hospitals. These VRE strains showed resistance only to vancomycin, not other common antibiotics, indicating a low epidemic risk.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Science

Background:

  • Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) poses a significant healthcare challenge.
  • Understanding VRE prevalence and genetic profiles is crucial for infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and characteristics of VRE in Ibaraki prefecture.
  • To identify the specific vancomycin resistance genes present in isolated Enterococcus strains.

Main Methods:

  • Survey of VRE in six hospitals in Ibaraki prefecture.
  • Analysis of 355 fecal specimens for Enterococcus isolation.
  • Genotyping of vancomycin resistance genes (vanA, vanB, vanC) and antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Main Results:

  • Eighteen Enterococcus strains intermediately resistant to vancomycin were isolated.
  • All isolates possessed vanC genotypes (16 vanC-1, 2 vanC-2) and lacked vanA or vanB genes.
  • Isolates were susceptible or intermediately resistant to ampicillin, teicoplanin, linezolid, and quinupristin-dalfopristin.

Conclusions:

  • VRE with VanA or VanB phenotypes are not currently epidemic in Ibaraki prefecture.
  • The vanC genotype VRE identified are not highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.
  • Encouraging vancomycin-resistant gene detection is vital for accurate VRE characterization, as vanC genotypes can be motility-negative and misidentified.

More Related Videos

Visualization of Bacterial Resistance using Fluorescent Antibiotic Probes08:23

Visualization of Bacterial Resistance using Fluorescent Antibiotic Probes

Published on: March 2, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures01:22

Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures

Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Antibiotic Selection00:57

Antibiotic Selection

Overview
Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care01:30

Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care

A healthcare provider can diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI) through several methods:Medical History and Symptoms: The provider will take a detailed medical history and ask about symptoms such as frequent urination, burning sensation during urination, and lower abdominal pain.Urinalysis: A clean-catch urine sample is collected in a sterile container and tested for the presence of bacteria, white blood cells (leukocytes), nitrites, blood, and protein. The presence of leukocytes and...
Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...