Evaluation of resistance mechanisms and susceptibility testing in Enterococcus spp.: implications of...

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) represent a major challenge in healthcare settings due to limited therapeutic options and the emergence of resistance to last-line agents. Accurate detection of resistance mechanisms and understanding the molecular epidemiology of circulating strains are essential for effective surveillance and infection control.

A total of 192 non-duplicate Enterococcus isolates (103 VRE and 89 vancomycin-susceptible isolates) recovered from clinical specimens between 2018 and 2022 were analyzed. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using broth microdilution (BMD) as the reference method and compared with automated and gradient-based methods. Resistance genes associated with vancomycin and linezolid resistance were investigated by in-house PCR and sequencing. Clonal relatedness of VRE isolates was assessed using AP-PCR, PFGE, and MLST.

Among VRE isolates, vanA was the predominant resistance determinant, while a single isolate carried vanB. Importantly, vanA was also detected in three phenotypically vancomycin-susceptible E. faecalis isolates, consistent with vancomycin-variable enterococci. Linezolid resistance was identified in three isolates (1.6%); two E. faecalis isolates harbored the transferable optrA gene, representing the first report of optrA-positive E. faecalis causing human infections in Türkiye, while one E. faecium isolate showed linezolid resistance in the absence of the investigated resistance genes. Tigecycline resistance was uncommon. Daptomycin retained in vitro activity with higher MIC₅₀/ MIC₉₀ values in E. faecium, whereas oritavancin MIC values were higher among E. faecalis isolates. The BD Phoenix system demonstrated high categorical agreement with BMD for vancomycin and teicoplanin but generated major and very major errors for linezolid susceptibility testing. Molecular typing revealed extensive genetic diversity among VRE isolates, with 35 AP-PCR genotypes, PFGE-confirmed clustering including one predominant clone, and the identification of 11 novel MLST sequence types (ST2994-ST3004).

This study provides insight into the resistance landscape and genetic diversity of clinical Enterococcus isolates. The detection of vancomycin-variable enterococci and transferable linezolid resistance determinants underscores the need for integrated phenotypic and molecular approaches to ensure accurate resistance detection and effective surveillance.