Comparison of PCR with Phenotypic Methods for the Speciation of Enterococci

Woodford, Neil; Egelton, Claire M.; Morrison, Donald

Abstract

In recent years, enterococci have emerged as an important cause of hospital infections, particularly in patients with serious underlying disease. There are currently 17 recognized species in the genus Enterococcus, although E. faecalis and E. faecium usually account for over 90% of clinical isolates. The LHI receives approximately 800 enterococci annually for speciation, which has been undertaken using biochemical and other phenotypic tests (eg. motility and pigment production). We have recently evaluated a multiplex PCR assay designed to allow the identification of E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. gallinarum and E. casseliflavus/E. flavescens 1. This assay is based upon amplification of regions of the species-specific genes encoding production either of D-alanyl-D-alanine ligase (ddl E. faecalis or ddl E. faecium ) or the alternative ligase responsible for intrinsic vancomycin resistance (vanC-1 in E. gallinarum and vanC-2/3 in E. casseliflavus/E. flavescens).

Citation

Woodford, N., Egelton, C. M., & Morrison, D. (1997). Comparison of PCR with Phenotypic Methods for the Speciation of Enterococci. In Streptococci and the Host (405-408). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1825-3_97

• Publication Date: 1997
• Deposit Date: May 2, 2020
• Publisher: Springer
• Pages: 405-408
• Series Title: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
• Series Number: 418
• Book Title: Streptococci and the Host.
• ISBN: 9781489918277; 9781489918253
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1825-3_97
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2657971