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Characterization and susceptibility patterns of clinically important Enterococcus species in eastern Nepal
A Acharya1, A Khanal, R Kanungo
1Department of Microbiology. B.P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. anju_71np@yahoo.com
Nepal Medical College Journal : NMCJ
|February 27, 2008
Summary
Multidrug-resistant enterococci, particularly Enterococcus faecium, pose a significant threat. Vancomycin resistance was noted in 17% of E. faecium isolates, highlighting the need for judicious antibiotic use.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Enterococcus species are a growing cause of life-threatening infections, exacerbated by multidrug resistance.
- The emergence of resistant strains poses a significant challenge to modern medical care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize enterococci from clinical samples.
- To determine antibiotic susceptibility patterns in a tertiary care hospital in Nepal.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of clinical samples for Enterococcus species identification (biochemical tests).
- Antibiotic susceptibility testing using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method.
Main Results:
- Enterococcus faecalis (48%) was the most common isolate, followed by E. faecium (32%) and E. avium (20%).
- E. faecium exhibited high resistance rates to vancomycin (17%), ciprofloxacin (63%), and ampicillin (44%).
- E. faecalis showed high sensitivity to ceftriaxone (88%) and vancomycin (87%), while E. avium rarely showed resistance.
Conclusions:
- Enterococcal infections are prevalent, especially in hospitalized patients.
- Inappropriate antibiotic use in healthcare and agriculture contributes to multidrug resistance.
- Discouraging the misuse of antibiotics is crucial to prevent the spread of resistant enterococci.
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