Prevalence, molecular characterization and risk factors of vancomycin-resistant enterococci: evidence from patients admitted in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and associated risk factors of vancomycin-resistant enterococci among patients upon admission. One hundred and seventeen samples from newly admitted patients at University of Benin Teaching Hospital were screened. Ten (8.55%) samples were positive for vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) isolates based on chromogenic and molecular screenings. The speciation prevalence revealed that 8/10 (80%) was E. faecalis while 2/10 (20%) was E. faecium. The prevalence based on recent histories of antibiotics usage showed that 8/74 (10.8%) of the patients with histories of antibiotics usage in the last six months appeared positive while 2/43 (4.7%) appeared positive from patients with no histories of antibiotics usage in the last six months. The prevalence based on sample types was 4/31 (12.9%) in stool samples, 2/24(8.3%) in wound swabs and 4/49 (8.2%) in urine samples. Most of the isolates 6/10 (60%) showed the presence of van A gene. The VRE isolates showed total resistance towards vancomycin and ampicillin. The MAR index of the isolates tested in this study ranged from 0.33 – 0.78. The prevalence of virulence factor formation as observed was gelatinase activity 6/10(60%), biofilm formation 8/10 (80%), β-hemolytic activity 7/10 (70%), and DNase activity 3/10 (30%). This study demonstrated the presence of VRE in healthcare settings, which is a great threat to public health. Therefore, the development of proper surveillance policies and antimicrobial sensitization programmes to monitor the use of antibiotics is advised with a view to curtailing its spread.