Evaluation of a PCR Assay to Detect Enterococcus faecalis in Blood and Determine Glycopeptides Resistance Genes: Van A and Van B

BACKGROUND Bacteremia due to Enterococcus faecalis is usually caused by strains resistant to most antibiotics. Effective management of the disease is dependent on rapid detection and characterization of the bacteria, and determination its sensitivity pattern to antimicrobial drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate a more rapid and reliable assay for simultaneous diagnosis of enterococcal bacteremia and its sensitivity pattern to antimicrobial drugs. METHODS Several bacterial suspensions with different content of two standard strains of Enterococcus faecalis resistant to vancomycin were used for inoculation to defibrinated sheep blood samples. PCR and routine assay was performed on all blood samples with different bacterial content. RESULTS Routine assay and PCR for all inoculated blood samples with ≥5 cfu/ml was positive. Mean time for PCR and routine assays was 10 hours and 5 days, respectively. CONCLUSION PCR is a more rapid and sensitive assay for simultaneous detection and characterization for Enterococcus faecalis, and determination of its sensitivity pattern to vancomycin.