Pathogenicity potential of enterococci isolated from a Veterinary Biological Isolation and Containment Unit

IntroductionEnterococcus are considered an important genus in terms of Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs), which means that their characterization regarding resistance and virulence profiles in the hospital environment is of extreme importance. This article addresses this issue through the characte...

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Main Authors: Catarina Geraldes, Catarina Araújo, Ana Catarina Pinheiro, Mónica Afonso, Sandra Carapeto, Cláudia Verdial, Eva Cunha, Raquel Abreu, Luís Tavares, Lélia Chambel, Solange Gil, Manuela Oliveira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1458069/full
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author Catarina Geraldes
Catarina Geraldes
Catarina Araújo
Catarina Araújo
Ana Catarina Pinheiro
Ana Catarina Pinheiro
Mónica Afonso
Mónica Afonso
Sandra Carapeto
Sandra Carapeto
Cláudia Verdial
Eva Cunha
Eva Cunha
Raquel Abreu
Raquel Abreu
Luís Tavares
Luís Tavares
Lélia Chambel
Solange Gil
Solange Gil
Solange Gil
Manuela Oliveira
Manuela Oliveira
Manuela Oliveira
author_facet Catarina Geraldes
Catarina Geraldes
Catarina Araújo
Catarina Araújo
Ana Catarina Pinheiro
Ana Catarina Pinheiro
Mónica Afonso
Mónica Afonso
Sandra Carapeto
Sandra Carapeto
Cláudia Verdial
Eva Cunha
Eva Cunha
Raquel Abreu
Raquel Abreu
Luís Tavares
Luís Tavares
Lélia Chambel
Solange Gil
Solange Gil
Solange Gil
Manuela Oliveira
Manuela Oliveira
Manuela Oliveira
author_sort Catarina Geraldes
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionEnterococcus are considered an important genus in terms of Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs), which means that their characterization regarding resistance and virulence profiles in the hospital environment is of extreme importance. This article addresses this issue through the characterization of enterococci collected from a Veterinary Biological Isolation and Containment Unit (BICU).MethodsA total of 73 isolates, collected from different surfaces of a Veterinary BICU, were identified as Enterococcus through PCR at species level, after which 34 isolates were selected as representatives using (GTG)5 fingerprinting. These isolates were further characterized phenotypically in terms of antimicrobial resistance through disk diffusion and of virulence factors’ expression.ResultsThe majority of the enterococci isolated presented resistance to erythromycin (79.4%), ampicillin (73.5%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (70.6%), tetracycline (67.6%), ciprofloxacin (58.8%) and levofloxacin (50.0%), and were able to produce hemolysin (88.2%) and biofilm (82.3%). Furthermore, in terms of pathogenicity, three isolates (8.8%) were classified as high threats and two (5.9%) as moderate threats.DiscussionThe degree of resistance, production of virulence factors and the percentage of isolates classified as moderate or high threat means that a constant vigilance of such strains in veterinary units, but also in clinics and hospitals in general, is an important tool in terms of infection prevention and consequent reduction of HAIs.
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spelling doaj-art-05a93561db7c4bc08891cb5beee895872025-08-20T01:50:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692024-10-011110.3389/fvets.2024.14580691458069Pathogenicity potential of enterococci isolated from a Veterinary Biological Isolation and Containment UnitCatarina Geraldes0Catarina Geraldes1Catarina Araújo2Catarina Araújo3Ana Catarina Pinheiro4Ana Catarina Pinheiro5Mónica Afonso6Mónica Afonso7Sandra Carapeto8Sandra Carapeto9Cláudia Verdial10Eva Cunha11Eva Cunha12Raquel Abreu13Raquel Abreu14Luís Tavares15Luís Tavares16Lélia Chambel17Solange Gil18Solange Gil19Solange Gil20Manuela Oliveira21Manuela Oliveira22Manuela Oliveira23CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalAL4AnimalS - Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalCIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalAL4AnimalS - Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalCIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalAL4AnimalS - Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalCIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalAL4AnimalS - Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalCIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalAL4AnimalS - Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalCIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalAL4AnimalS - Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalCIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalAL4AnimalS - Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalBioISI - Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalCIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalAL4AnimalS - Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalBICU - Biological Isolation and Containment Unit, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalCIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalAL4AnimalS - Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalcE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes and CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalIntroductionEnterococcus are considered an important genus in terms of Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs), which means that their characterization regarding resistance and virulence profiles in the hospital environment is of extreme importance. This article addresses this issue through the characterization of enterococci collected from a Veterinary Biological Isolation and Containment Unit (BICU).MethodsA total of 73 isolates, collected from different surfaces of a Veterinary BICU, were identified as Enterococcus through PCR at species level, after which 34 isolates were selected as representatives using (GTG)5 fingerprinting. These isolates were further characterized phenotypically in terms of antimicrobial resistance through disk diffusion and of virulence factors’ expression.ResultsThe majority of the enterococci isolated presented resistance to erythromycin (79.4%), ampicillin (73.5%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (70.6%), tetracycline (67.6%), ciprofloxacin (58.8%) and levofloxacin (50.0%), and were able to produce hemolysin (88.2%) and biofilm (82.3%). Furthermore, in terms of pathogenicity, three isolates (8.8%) were classified as high threats and two (5.9%) as moderate threats.DiscussionThe degree of resistance, production of virulence factors and the percentage of isolates classified as moderate or high threat means that a constant vigilance of such strains in veterinary units, but also in clinics and hospitals in general, is an important tool in terms of infection prevention and consequent reduction of HAIs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1458069/fullEnterococcushospital-acquired infectionsantibiotic resistancevirulenceveterinaryBiological Isolation and Containment Unit
spellingShingle Catarina Geraldes
Catarina Geraldes
Catarina Araújo
Catarina Araújo
Ana Catarina Pinheiro
Ana Catarina Pinheiro
Mónica Afonso
Mónica Afonso
Sandra Carapeto
Sandra Carapeto
Cláudia Verdial
Eva Cunha
Eva Cunha
Raquel Abreu
Raquel Abreu
Luís Tavares
Luís Tavares
Lélia Chambel
Solange Gil
Solange Gil
Solange Gil
Manuela Oliveira
Manuela Oliveira
Manuela Oliveira
Pathogenicity potential of enterococci isolated from a Veterinary Biological Isolation and Containment Unit
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Enterococcus
hospital-acquired infections
antibiotic resistance
virulence
veterinary
Biological Isolation and Containment Unit
title Pathogenicity potential of enterococci isolated from a Veterinary Biological Isolation and Containment Unit
title_full Pathogenicity potential of enterococci isolated from a Veterinary Biological Isolation and Containment Unit
title_fullStr Pathogenicity potential of enterococci isolated from a Veterinary Biological Isolation and Containment Unit
title_full_unstemmed Pathogenicity potential of enterococci isolated from a Veterinary Biological Isolation and Containment Unit
title_short Pathogenicity potential of enterococci isolated from a Veterinary Biological Isolation and Containment Unit
title_sort pathogenicity potential of enterococci isolated from a veterinary biological isolation and containment unit
topic Enterococcus
hospital-acquired infections
antibiotic resistance
virulence
veterinary
Biological Isolation and Containment Unit
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1458069/full
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