Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility of enterococcal strains isolated from both nosocomial and community-acquired urinary tract infections between January 2011 and December 2014, and also to compare the resistance rates between January 2011-December 2012 and January 2013-December 2014 periods.

Methods: The identification of the strains and antimicrobial susceptibility rates were determined by BD Phoenix (Becton, Dickinson and Company., Sparks, Maryland, USA) and VITEK® 2 (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, Fransa) automatized systems.

Results: All isolates (n=156) were found to be susceptible to vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid and tigecycline. Penicillin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, tetracycline, fosfomycin, gentamicin (high-level) and streptomycin (high-level) resistance rates were 60.9, 8.7, 15.2, 4.3, 73.9, 6.5, 15.2 and 26.1% in nosocomial Enterococcus faecalis isolates (n=46), respectively; and 100, 100, 28.6, 65.7, 42.9, 8.6, 17.1 and 31.4% in nosocomial E. faecium isolates (n=35), respectively. Comparison of data between January 2011-December 2012 and January 2013-December 2014 periods revealed significant increases in resistance rates to penicillin, ciprofloxacin, and streptomycin (high-level) in nosocomial E. faecalis isolates and to ciprofloxacin and streptomycin (high-level) in nosocomial E. faecium isolates. In community-acquired E. faecalis isolates, the resistance rates for penicillin and ciprofloxacin were found to be increased in the second period of the study.

Conclusions: High-level aminoglycoside and quinolone resistance rates in enterococci were significantly increased in our hospital. Results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing are important for choosing appropriate treatment.