Pheno- and Genotypic Epidemiological Characterization of Vancomycin-Resistant <i>Enterococcus faecium</i> Isolates from Intensive Care Unit Patients in Central Türkiye

Vancomycin-resistant <i>Enterococcus faecium</i> (VRE) has been detected in Türkiye. Only limited information is available on its dissemination in the central regions of the country. This study describes the first epidemiological characterization of VRE clinical isolates detected in patients in a hospital in the province of Aksaray. In this one-year study conducted between 2021 and 2022, stool samples from intensive care unit patients were screened for VRE using the phenotypic E-test method, and the antibiotic sensitivity test was analyzed by using the VITEK^® 2 system. A molecular assay for confirmation of species level was carried out by 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing and testing for antibiotic resistance (<i>van</i>A or <i>van</i>B) and virulence factor-encoding genes (<i>esp, asa1</i>, and <i>hyl</i>). Further, genotypic characterization was determined by macro-restriction fragment pattern analysis (MRFPA) of genomic DNA digested with <i>Sma</i>I restriction enzyme. Of the total 350 <i>Enterococcus</i> positive patients from different hospital intensive care units, 22 (6.3%) were positive for VRE using the phenotypic E-test method. All isolates showed resistance to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, and teicoplanin and positive amplification for the <i>van</i>A gene. However, none of the isolates was positive for the <i>van</i>B gene. The most prevalent virulence gene was <i>esp</i>. The results indicate that the isolates are persistent in the hospital environment and subsequently transmitted to hospitalized patients, thus representing challenges to an outbreak and infection control. These study results would also help formulate more effective strategies to reduce the transmission and propagation of VRE contamination in various hospital settings.