Περίληψη:
Ninety Enterobacter cloacae strains isolated from 12 Greek hospitals
were examined in terms of epidemiological types and resistance
mechanisms. Using O serotyping 69% of the strains were assigned to a
specific serotype and overall 16 different serotypes were identified.
The combination of serotyping, phagetyping and biotyping efficiently
discriminated most of the strains, indicating that single epidemic
strains were not prevalent, although serotypes 3, 7, and group II
predominated. Eight representative strains, all resistant to
gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin and netilmicin, were further examined
for transferability and mechanisms of resistance. Aminoglycoside
resistance was found to be transferable in most strains, and 13 R
plasmids of 40-120 MDa molecular weight were detected. The enzymes
detected consisted of three enzymes active against gentamicin
[ANT(2”), AAC(3)-I and AAC(3)-V]; three active against tobramycin
[ANT(2”), AAC(3)-V and AAC(6’)-I]; two active against netilmicin
[AAC(3)-V and AAC(6’)-I]; and one active against amikacin
[AAC(6’)-I]. APH(3’) and ANT (3”), which modify neomycin and
streptomycin plus spectinomycin respectively, were also found. Overall
up to five aminoglycoside modifying enzymes were detected on the same R
plasmid, AAC(6’)-I plus ANT(2”) being the most prevalent. The high
incidence of multiresistance in Enterobacter cloacae and the fact that
resistance is due to enzymatic inactivation of the antibiotics, indicate
that in Greece this species might act as a gene pool for the spread of
resistance to other bacteria of clinical relevance.
Συγγραφείς:
VATOPOULOS, AC
TSAKRIS, A
TZOUVELEKIS, LS
LEGAKIS, NJ and
PITT, TL
MILLER, GH
SHAW, KJ
ANTREOU, M
NIKOLOPOULOU, M
and KOMNINOU, Z
