The prevalence of -carrying in the vaginal micro-ecology of pregnant women in late pregnancy.

The colonization of in the female vagina leads to neonatal and pediatric enterococcal septicemia. Linezolid (LZD) is a kind of mainstream drug for treating multidrug-resistant Gram-positive infections. is the main LZD-resistance gene at in human isolates. It is essential to explore the prevalence of -carrying in vaginal secretions of late pregnant women and the drug resistance of . From May to June 2023, this study recruited 340 volunteers in late pregnancy (35-40 weeks of pregnancy) to provide non-repetitive vaginal discharge samples. Luria-Bertani broth and florfenicol (10 µg/mL) were used to enrich bacteria. was identified through time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Additionally, antimicrobial susceptibility, polymerase chain reaction, and next-generation sequencing assays were applied to this study. Fifty-four -carrying strains were obtained, the proportion of the whole vagina of late pregnant women was 15.88% (54 out of 340), and account the highest proportion. All -carrying were resistant to at least three drugs. Tetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and LZD have higher bacterial resistance rates. Genetic environment analysis revealed that IS, , and (A) may synergistically exert multidrug resistance with . It is necessary to strengthen the surveillance of -carrying in pregnant women. This study provides scientific support for controlling hospital infections and managing antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and provides a scientific basis for rational clinical medication.IMPORTANCEThe disruption of cervicovaginal microbiota homeostasis is considered a key factor in causing imbalance in the microenvironment, leading to inflammation, transmission of infections, and illness. is considered a major cause of healthcare-related infections globally. It has resistance to multiple antimicrobial drugs, which pose significant challenges for clinical treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the prevalence of -carrying in vaginal secretions of late pregnant women and the drug resistance of . This study detected 15.88% of -carried in 340 pregnant women. Furthermore, we found that -carrying strains are highly resistant to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and Linezolid. Additionally, genetic environment analysis revealed that , , and (A) may synergistically exert multidrug resistance with . This study provides scientific support for controlling hospital infections and managing antibiotic-resistant bacteria and provides a scientific basis for rational clinical medication.