Antimicrobial Resistance of the Genus Enterococcus in Cantonal Hospital of Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Among Enterococcus spp, only the virulence gene harboring strains of Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium are associated with human infections, including urinary tract infections (UTI), pelvic, blood, intraabdominal, and skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). Over the past decades, enterococcal antimicrobial resistance has escalated in many regions of the world, leading to ominous outcomes. The rising incidence of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HCAIs) secondary to Vancomycin-resistant strain (VRE) resulted in high morbidity and mortality, as well as substantial challenges in control, prevention, and management). The aim of this study is to examine the antimicrobial resistance of E. faecalis and E. faecium species in different human samples. The study included 184 clinical samples over a period of 6 months. E. faecalis was identified in 95.65% and E. faecium in 4.35% of cases. E. faecalis isolates showed resistance to gentamicin in 40.9% of cases and to ampicillin in 1.7% of cases. Resistance to nitrofurantoin and ciprofloxacin was observed in 6.1% and 35.7% of E. faecalis isolates. VRE was isolated in 1.1% of E. faecalis isolates tested for this antibiotic. Resistance of E. faecium isolates to ampicillin and gentamicin was observed in 87.5% of cases in both antibiotics. All urinary isolates of E. faecium were resistant to ciprofloxacin. All E. faecium isolates were sensitive to vancomycin. Based on the results of our study, the growing importance of Enterococcus spp. as a causative agent of hospital infections and infections in the general population, and its antimicrobial resistance to various drugs were observed.