Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in Algeria: phenotypic and genotypic characterization of clinical isolates

Nabila Benamrouche; Badia Guettou; Fatma Zohra Henniche; Farida Assaous; Houcine Laouar; Hanifa Ziane; Fazia Djennane; Djamal Tiouit; Chafia Bentchouala; Ferroudja Yamouni; Kheira Rahal; Hassiba Tali Maamar

doi:10.3855/jidc.12482

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in Algeria: phenotypic and genotypic characterization of clinical isolates

Authors

Nabila Benamrouche Medical Bacteriology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Algiers, Algeria
Badia Guettou Medical Bacteriology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Algiers, Algeria
Fatma Zohra Henniche Microbiology Laboratory, Mohamed Seghir Nekkache Central Hospital of Army, Algiers, Algeria
Farida Assaous Medical Bacteriology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Algiers, Algeria
Houcine Laouar Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Constantine, Constantine, Algeria
Hanifa Ziane Department of Microbiology, Mustapha University Hospital, Algiers, Algeria
Fazia Djennane Department of Microbiology, Mustapha University Hospital, Algiers, Algeria
Djamal Tiouit Microbiology Laboratory, Mohamed Seghir Nekkache Central Hospital of Army, Algiers, Algeria
Chafia Bentchouala Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Constantine, Constantine, Algeria
Ferroudja Yamouni Central Laboratory, University Regional Military Hospital of Oran, Oran, Algeria
Kheira Rahal Medical Bacteriology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Algiers, Algeria
Hassiba Tali Maamar Medical Bacteriology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Algiers, Algeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.12482

Keywords:

E. faecium, antimicrobial susceptibility, vanA, MLST, Algeria, vancomycin resistant

Abstract

Introduction: vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) is a major public health problem worldwide. The aim of our study was to determine the microbiological, epidemiological and molecular characteristics of VREfm isolated in north-central, eastern and western Algeria.

Methodology: a collection of 48 VREfm isolated from September 2010 to April 2017 in several Algerian hospitals were studied. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by E-test method according to CLSI guidelines. the detection of van genotype of all strains was performed by PCR. Clonal relationship of five VREfm targeted by region were characterized using multilocus sequence typing (MLST).

Results: All isolates have multidrug-resistance (MDR) and were resistant to at least five classes of antibiotics; however, all were susceptible to tigecycline and daptomycin with MIC₅₀ at 0.094 µg/mL and 2 µg/mL respectively. All strains belonged to vanA genotype and have high level of resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin. MLST revealed two sequence types (STs): ST80 (from the four regions of Algeria) and ST789, both belonging to the former hospital-adapted clonal complex CC17.

Conclusions: the alarming dissemination of MDR E. faecium vanA and the ST80 in several regions of Algeria suggest a clonal spread of VREfm strains, which urgently require implementation of adequate infection control measures.

Author Biography

Nabila Benamrouche, Medical Bacteriology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Algiers, Algeria

Medical Bacteriology Laboratory

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Published

2021-01-31

How to Cite

Benamrouche N, Guettou B, Henniche FZ, Assaous F, Laouar H, Ziane H, Djennane F, Tiouit D, Bentchouala C, Yamouni F, Rahal K, Tali Maamar H (2021) Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in Algeria: phenotypic and genotypic characterization of clinical isolates. J Infect Dev Ctries 15:95–101. doi: 10.3855/jidc.12482

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Issue

Vol. 15 No. 01: January 2021

Section

Original Articles

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