Highly variable vancomycin-resistant enterococci in the north-eastern part of the Czech Republic.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are nosocomial pathogens of increasing medical importance. This study involved 121 VRE selectively obtained from a representative set of 1464 samples collected from various sources in the north-eastern part of the Czech Republic. In total, 119 VRE belonged to Enterococcus faecium and two to Enterococcus faecalis.

Wild corvid birds colonized with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium of human origin harbor epidemic vanA plasmids.

The most prevalent type of acquired vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) is encoded by the vanA transposon Tn1546, mainly located on transferable plasmids. vanA plasmids have been characterized in VREfm from a variety of sources but not wild birds. The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic context of VREfm strains recovered from wild corvid birds and to compare their plasmid and strain characteristics with human strains.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci with vanA gene in treated municipal wastewater and their association with human hospital strains.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are pathogens of increasing medical importance. In Brno, Czech Republic, we collected 37 samples from the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), 21 surface swabs from hospital settings, and 59 fecal samples from hospitalized patients and staff. Moreover, we collected 284 gull cloacal swabs from the colony situated 35km downstream the WWTP.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci with vanA and vanB genes in Australian gulls.

This study is revealing the possible dissemination of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) from humans into the wildlife. We studied silver gulls (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) in Australia as potential carriers and reservoirs of VRE with acquired vancomycin resistance. In New South Wales (Australia), we have found two multi-resistant isolates belonging to Enterococcus faecium (sequence type 341, vanB genotype) and Enterococcus dispar (vanA genotype).

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium with vanA gene isolated for the first time from wildlife in Slovakia.

Corvids have been identified as an important vector of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in several European countries. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of VRE in wildlife in Slovakia and to characterize vanA-carrying VRE. At the beginning of 2013, we collected 287 fecal samples of common raven (Corvus corax) in Petrovce and 99 fecal samples of rooks (Corvus frugilegus) in Kosice.