Abstract

Background: Enterococci have emerged as an important cause of nosocomial infections, and antibiotic resistance Enterococcus is a major obstacle for treatment.

Objective: The present study was carried out to determine the species of Enterococci isolated from urine samples and to determine its multidrug-resistant pattern.

Materials and Methods: Enterococcus spp. were isolated and identified from urine samples between February 2014 and June 2015 by the standard biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method as per the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.

Result: Among the 156 isolates, Enterococcus faecium constituted the predominant isolate. They were found to be susceptible to linezolid and vancomycin with least sensitive to ampicillin and ciprofloxacin.

Conclusion: Routine speciation and in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Enterococcus in urine samples are emphasized due to the prevalence of a wide variety of Enterococcus species and also appearance of high-resistant strains.

Key words: Enterococcus spp.; Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing; Multidrug Resistance; High-level Gentamicin Resistance; Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci