High level resistance to Erythromycin and Tetracycline and dissemination of resistance determinants among clinical enterococci in Kerman-Iran
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution pattern of genes responsible for erythromycin and tetracycline resistance and their association with resistance phenotype in enterococci isolates. Materials and Methods: Eighty six Enterococcus faecalis and 26 E. faecium isolates were collected from two hospitals in Kerman-Iran. Minimum inhibitory concentration of erythromycin and tetracycline were determined and then, genes encoding resistance to erythromycin; erm (A-C), mef and msr -and tetracycline; tet (M), tet (O), tet (S), tet (K) and tet (L) – were investigated. Results: In all resistant isolates (n= 72, 64%), high level resistance to both tested antibiotics was found. The most prevalent erm gene was erm (B) (77.7%), followed by erm (A) (15.2%) and erm (C) (8.3%). Genes mediating erythromycin efflux, were detected in 70.8 % (mef) and 9.7% (msr) of resistant isolates. Regarding tetracycline, tet (M) was detected at the highest rate (50%), followed by tet (O) (31%) and tet (S) (11%). Export of tetracycline was found in 31% (tet (K)) and 12% (tet (L)) of isolates. Conclusion: High prevalence of high level resistance to both erythromycin and tetracycline was documented. The alteration at ribosomal level, had bigger role in erythromycin and tetracycline resistance than efflux systems. Concurrent resistance mechanisms were more involved in resistance to erythromycin than tetracycline.