Global spread of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium from distinct nosocomial genetic complex

Rob J.L. Willems; Janetta Top; Marga Van Santen; D. Ashley Robinson; Teresa M. Coque; Fernando Baquero; Hajo Grundmann; Marc J.M. Bonten

doi:10.3201/1106.041204

Global spread of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium from distinct nosocomial genetic complex

Rob J.L. Willems^*, Janetta Top, Marga Van Santen, D. Ashley Robinson, Teresa M. Coque, Fernando Baquero, Hajo Grundmann, Marc J.M. Bonten

^*Corresponding author for this work

Infection & Immunity

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

377 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have caused hospital outbreaks worldwide, and the vancomycin-resistance gene (vanA) has crossed genus boundaries to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Spread of VRE, therefore, represents an immediate threat for patient care and creates a reservoir of mobile resistance genes for other, more virulent pathogens. Evolutionary genetics, population structure, and geographic distribution of 411 VRE and vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium isolates, recovered from human and nonhuman sources and community and hospital reservoirs in 5 continents, identified a genetic lineage of E. faecium (complex-17) that has spread globally. This lineage is characterized by 1) ampicillin resistance, 2) a pathogenicity island, and 3) an association with hospital outbreaks. Complex-17 is an example of cumulative evolutionary processes that improved the relative fitness of bacteria in hospital environments. Preventing further spread of this epidemic E. faecium subpopulation is critical, and efforts should focus on the early disclosure of ampicillin-resistant complex-17 strains.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	821-828
Number of pages	8
Journal	Emerging Infectious Diseases
Volume	11
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3201/1106.041204
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2005

Access to Document

10.3201/1106.041204

Cite this

@article{2edf0a2f919b457280955dbe59721c4f,

title = "Global spread of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium from distinct nosocomial genetic complex",

abstract = "Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have caused hospital outbreaks worldwide, and the vancomycin-resistance gene (vanA) has crossed genus boundaries to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Spread of VRE, therefore, represents an immediate threat for patient care and creates a reservoir of mobile resistance genes for other, more virulent pathogens. Evolutionary genetics, population structure, and geographic distribution of 411 VRE and vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium isolates, recovered from human and nonhuman sources and community and hospital reservoirs in 5 continents, identified a genetic lineage of E. faecium (complex-17) that has spread globally. This lineage is characterized by 1) ampicillin resistance, 2) a pathogenicity island, and 3) an association with hospital outbreaks. Complex-17 is an example of cumulative evolutionary processes that improved the relative fitness of bacteria in hospital environments. Preventing further spread of this epidemic E. faecium subpopulation is critical, and efforts should focus on the early disclosure of ampicillin-resistant complex-17 strains.",

author = "Willems, {Rob J.L.} and Janetta Top and {Van Santen}, Marga and Robinson, {D. Ashley} and Coque, {Teresa M.} and Fernando Baquero and Hajo Grundmann and Bonten, {Marc J.M.}",

year = "2005",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3201/1106.041204",

language = "English",

volume = "11",

pages = "821--828",

journal = "Emerging Infectious Diseases",

issn = "1080-6040",

publisher = "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)",

number = "6",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Global spread of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium from distinct nosocomial genetic complex

AU - Willems, Rob J.L.

AU - Top, Janetta

AU - Van Santen, Marga

AU - Robinson, D. Ashley

AU - Coque, Teresa M.

AU - Baquero, Fernando

AU - Grundmann, Hajo

AU - Bonten, Marc J.M.

PY - 2005/1/1

Y1 - 2005/1/1

N2 - Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have caused hospital outbreaks worldwide, and the vancomycin-resistance gene (vanA) has crossed genus boundaries to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Spread of VRE, therefore, represents an immediate threat for patient care and creates a reservoir of mobile resistance genes for other, more virulent pathogens. Evolutionary genetics, population structure, and geographic distribution of 411 VRE and vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium isolates, recovered from human and nonhuman sources and community and hospital reservoirs in 5 continents, identified a genetic lineage of E. faecium (complex-17) that has spread globally. This lineage is characterized by 1) ampicillin resistance, 2) a pathogenicity island, and 3) an association with hospital outbreaks. Complex-17 is an example of cumulative evolutionary processes that improved the relative fitness of bacteria in hospital environments. Preventing further spread of this epidemic E. faecium subpopulation is critical, and efforts should focus on the early disclosure of ampicillin-resistant complex-17 strains.

AB - Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have caused hospital outbreaks worldwide, and the vancomycin-resistance gene (vanA) has crossed genus boundaries to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Spread of VRE, therefore, represents an immediate threat for patient care and creates a reservoir of mobile resistance genes for other, more virulent pathogens. Evolutionary genetics, population structure, and geographic distribution of 411 VRE and vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium isolates, recovered from human and nonhuman sources and community and hospital reservoirs in 5 continents, identified a genetic lineage of E. faecium (complex-17) that has spread globally. This lineage is characterized by 1) ampicillin resistance, 2) a pathogenicity island, and 3) an association with hospital outbreaks. Complex-17 is an example of cumulative evolutionary processes that improved the relative fitness of bacteria in hospital environments. Preventing further spread of this epidemic E. faecium subpopulation is critical, and efforts should focus on the early disclosure of ampicillin-resistant complex-17 strains.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=19344375141&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3201/1106.041204

DO - 10.3201/1106.041204

M3 - Article

C2 - 15963275

AN - SCOPUS:19344375141

SN - 1080-6040

VL - 11

SP - 821

EP - 828

JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases

JF - Emerging Infectious Diseases

IS - 6

ER -

Global spread of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium from distinct nosocomial genetic complex

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this