Background:
Enterococcus species present significant health risks due to their widespread presence in humans, animals, and the environment. This study examined the patterns of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the presence of carbapenemase-producing
Enterococcus species from various sources.
Methods: Between November 2023 and February 2024, 500 samples were collected in Lagos State, including 350 clinical human samples, 50 environmental samples, and 100 animal samples. The samples were processed, and
Enterococcus isolates were identified and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) by standard methods. Furthermore, carbapenemase (
blaKPC and
oxa-48) and virulence genes (
gelE) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods using specific primers.
Results: The overall prevalence of
Enterococcus isolates was 4.6% (23/500), including 18
E. faecalis and 5
E. faecium. The source prevalence was 24% (12/50) from the environmental samples, 5% (5/100) from animal sources, and 1.7% (6/350) from the clinical samples. All
Enterococcus isolates were 100% resistant to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, imipenem, vancomycin, and ampicillin. However, 91% were susceptible to gentamicin. Six (6) distinct resistance profiles were observed, with the pattern AMP-ERY-TGC-CIP-TS-VA-CHL-AUG-MEM-IMI being the most frequent in 12
E. faecalis (4 isolates from humans, 2 from animals, and 6 from the environment). Notably, 39.1% (9/23) of multiple-drug resistant
Enterococcus isolates harbored the
gelE virulence gene, including seven
E. faecalis (five environmental and two human) and two
E. faecium from animal sources. The
E. faecalis strains HB003 and HB050, from human bacteremia cases carrying
gelE, were the first in Nigeria to produce
blaKPC and
oxa-48 carbapenemase genes.
Conclusions: This study revealed the emergence of carbapenemase-producing
Enterococcus species in our environment. A one-health approach and further molecular studies are essential to mitigate the spread and understand the transmission dynamics.
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