Incidence of Hemolysin, Gelatinase, and Aggregation Substance among Enterococci Isolated from Patients with Endocarditis and Other Infections and from Feces of Hospitalized and Community-Based Persons

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases 1995-05, Vol.171 (5), p.1223-1229
• Main Authors: Coque, Teresa M., Patterson, Jan E., Steckelberg, James M., Murray, Barbara E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregation; Bacterial Proteins - analysis; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Base Sequence; Biomarkers; Blood; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Endocarditis; Endocarditis, Bacterial - microbiology; Enterococcus faecalis; Enterococcus faecalis - drug effects; Enterococcus faecalis - enzymology; Enterococcus faecalis - isolation & purification; Enterococcus faecalis - pathogenicity; Feces; Feces - microbiology; Gelatinases - analysis; Gels; Gentamicins - pharmacology; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Hemolysin proteins; Hemolysin Proteins - analysis; Infections; Major Articles; Molecular Sequence Data; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Organ Specificity; Plasmids; Sex Attractants - analysis; Sex Attractants - genetics; Streptomycin - pharmacology; Virulence; Volunteerism
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/171.5.1223

The presence of hemolysin, gelatinase, and aggregation substance (by use of a probe known to hybridize to most pheromone-responsive plasmids) was determined in 192 isolates of Enterococcus faecalis from patients with endocarditis or other infections and fecal isolates from hospitalized patients or healthy volunteers, and in 86 non-E. faecalis isolates. Hemolysin was more common in nonendocarditis clinical isolates and in hospital fecal isolates (37% and 31%, respectively) than among endocarditis and community fecal isolates (16% and 20%, respectively). Gelatinase and aggregation substance, respectively, were found in 54% and 52% of isolates from endocarditis, in 58% and 72% of isolates from other infections, in 62% and 56% of hospital fecal isolates, and in 27% and 30% of fecal isolates from healthy volunteers. All 86 non-E. faecalis enterococcal isolates were negative for these traits. The absence of hemolysin, gelatinase, or the aggregation substance gene in >45% of endocarditis Eifaecalis isolates suggests that while these traits may playa role in virulence, other properties are also important.