This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lester, C. H.
Right arrow Articles by Hammerum, A. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Lester, C. H.
Right arrow Articles by Hammerum, A. M.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 2006, p. 596-599, Vol. 50, No. 2
0066-4804/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.50.2.596-599.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

In Vivo Transfer of the vanA Resistance Gene from an Enterococcus faecium Isolate of Animal Origin to an E. faecium Isolate of Human Origin in the Intestines of Human Volunteers

Camilla H. Lester,1* Niels Frimodt-Møller,1 Thomas Lund Sørensen,2 Dominique L. Monnet,1 and Anette M. Hammerum1

National Center for Antimicrobials and Infection Control, 5 Artillerivej, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark,1 Clinical Unit for Health Promotion, H:S Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark2

Received 4 July 2005/ Returned for modification 8 September 2005/ Accepted 15 November 2005

Transient colonization by vancomycin-resistant enterococci of animal origin has been documented in the intestines of humans. However, little is known about whether transfer of the vanA gene occurs in the human intestine. Six volunteers ingested a vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolate of chicken origin, together with a vancomycin-susceptible E. faecium recipient of human origin. Transconjugants were recovered in three of six volunteers. In one volunteer, not only was vancomycin resistance transferred, but also quinupristin-dalfopristin resistance. This study shows that transfer of the vanA gene from an E. faecium isolate of animal origin to an E. faecium isolate of human origin can occur in the intestines of humans. It suggests that transient intestinal colonization by enterococci carrying mobile elements with resistance genes represents a risk for spread of resistance genes to other enterococci that are part of the human indigenous flora, which can be responsible for infections in certain groups of patients, e.g., immunocompromised patients.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: National Center for Antimicrobials and Infection Control, Statens Serum Institut, 5 Artillerivej, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark. Phone: 45 32 68 84 25. Fax: 45 32 68 38 87. E-mail: cal{at}ssi.dk.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 2006, p. 596-599, Vol. 50, No. 2
0066-4804/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.50.2.596-599.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Marrow, J., Whittington, J. K., Mitchell, M., Hoyer, L. L., Maddox, C. (2009). PREVALENCE AND ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF ENTEROCOCCUS SPP. ISOLATED FROM FREE-LIVING AND CAPTIVE RAPTORS IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS. J Wildl Dis 45: 302-313 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Trobos, M., Lester, C. H., Olsen, J. E., Frimodt-Moller, N., Hammerum, A. M. (2009). Natural transfer of sulphonamide and ampicillin resistance between Escherichia coli residing in the human intestine. J Antimicrob Chemother 63: 80-86 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Hunter, P. R., Wilkinson, D. C., Catling, L. A., Barker, G. C. (2008). Meta-Analysis of Experimental Data Concerning Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Transfer Rates during Conjugation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 6085-6090 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Al-Nassir, W. N., Sethi, A. K., Li, Y., Pultz, M. J., Riggs, M. M., Donskey, C. J. (2008). Both Oral Metronidazole and Oral Vancomycin Promote Persistent Overgrowth of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci during Treatment of Clostridium difficile-Associated Disease. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52: 2403-2406 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Feld, L., Schjorring, S., Hammer, K., Licht, T. R., Danielsen, M., Krogfelt, K., Wilcks, A. (2008). Selective pressure affects transfer and establishment of a Lactobacillus plantarum resistance plasmid in the gastrointestinal environment. J Antimicrob Chemother 61: 845-852 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Macovei, L., Zurek, L. (2007). Influx of Enterococci and Associated Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Genes from Ready-To-Eat Food to the Human Digestive Tract. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 6740-6747 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Dahl, K. H., Mater, D. D. G., Flores, M. J., Johnsen, P. J., Midtvedt, T., Corthier, G., Sundsfjord, A. (2007). Transfer of plasmid and chromosomal glycopeptide resistance determinants occurs more readily in the digestive tract of mice than in vitro and exconjugants can persist stably in vivo in the absence of glycopeptide selection. J Antimicrob Chemother 59: 478-486 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Rodriguez, C., Lang, L., Wang, A., Altendorf, K., Garcia, F., Lipski, A. (2006). Lettuce for Human Consumption Collected in Costa Rica Contains Complex Communities of Culturable Oxytetracycline- and Gentamicin-Resistant Bacteria. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 5870-5876 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»