TY - JOUR ID - TI - Virulence factors of enterococci species isolated from nosocomial and community acquired infections AU - Abbas A. Al-Duliami AU - Nadhum G. Nauman AU - Afak R. Salman AU - Abdul-Razak SH. Hasan PY - 2011 VL - 7 IS - 3 SP - 174 EP - 182 JO - Academic Science Journal مجلة العلوم الاكاديمية SN - 83732222 25189255 AB - Several virulence and pathogenicity factors have been described from enterococci thatenhances their ability to colonize patient's tissues, increase resistance to antibiotics, andaggravate the infection outcome. The present study aimed to investigate virulence andpathogenicity factors among enterococci species isolated from nosocomial and communityacquired infection in Diyala. The study was conducted in Baquba General Hospital and Al-Batool Hospital for Maternity and children during the period from 1st. September/2005 to 30th.September /2006. A total of 343 specimens were collected from 213 inpatients and 130outpatients. 200 (58.3%) were females and 143 (41.7%) were males. The mean age of patientswas (32.8 ± 17.2) years. 44 isolates of enterococcal species were recovered from differentclinical specimens and identified according to standard bacteriological and biochemicalcriteria. The presence of certain virulence and pathogenicity factors, namely; gelatinase andhemolysin production, biofilms formation, agglutination of erythrocytes, presence of capsule,and adherence to epithelial cells were detected. Data were statistically analyzed.The results showed that all isolates of E. gallinarium and E. avium were biofilmformer compared to 76.7% and 70% of E. faecalis and E. faecium respectively. Furthermore,all isolates of E. gallinarium and 76.7% of E. faecalis were β-lactamase producer.Additionally, all isolates of E. avium and 76.7% of E. faecalis were agglutinated RBCs. Thepresence of capsule was highest among E. faecalis isolates (26.7%). The results also revealedthat all E. galinarium and E. avium isolates were non-hemolytic. Furthermore, among 12isolates which express β- hemolysis, 10 (33.3%) and 2 (20%) were E. faecalis and E. faeciumrespectively. α-hemolysis were found among 10 (26.7%) isolates of E. faecalis and 2 (20%)isolates of E. faecium. It can be concluded that Local isolates of enterococci species recoveredfrom different clinical specimens are multi-virulence bacteria.

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