GENETIC-ANALYSIS OF MULTIPLE VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCUS ISOLATES OBTAINED SERIALLY FROM 2 LONG-TERM-CARE PATIENTS

Fifty eight vancomycin-resistant enterococcal isolates were obtained f rom two patients over 9 weeks, Numerous pulsed-field gel electrophores is fingerprinting types were isolated from each patient. By PCR, all i solates were vanA(+). However, many isolates from patient B were found to lack vanA by hybridization, Our results demonstrate the importance of examining multiple isolates, especially from patients who are at h igh risk of infection.