The presence and prevalence of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium strains in urine and stool samples

Abstract

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the presence and the prevalence of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from the urine and stool samples. Materials and Methods: A total of 500 routine urine and feces samples were used for testing as the study materials, and a total of 349 Enterococcus spp. were collected for investigation. For the isolation, blood agar and bile esculin agar were used. DNA isolations of the 24-hour growth cultures of possible enterococci were carried out using a DNA isolation kit. Results: Out of 350 routine urine and 150 stool samples taken with the approval of the patients, 235 (67.1%) and 114 (76%) Enterococcus spp. were isolated respectively. Using the multiplex PCR method with species specific primers, 136 (57.8%) of urine and 22 (19.2%) of stool originated enterococcal strains were identified as Enterococcus faecalis; on the other hand, 17 (7.2%) of urine and 61 (53.5%) of stool originated enterococci were identified as Enterococcus faecium. Conclusion: As a result of the study in Van, Turkey, the isolation rate of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium strains were found to be lower than other regions.