MOLECULAR TYPING OF ENTEROCOCCUS-FAECALIS STRAINS RESISTANT TO HIGH-LEVELS OF GENTAMICIN AND ISOLATED IN ROMANIA

Sixteen Enterococcus faecalis strains resistant to high levels of gent amicin, 15 of which were isolated in the same year in a Romanian hospi tal, harboured conjugative gentamicin resistance (Gm(r)) plasmids rang ing from 55 to 85 kilobases. On the basis of restriction enzyme and DN A-DNA hybridization profiles of these plasmids, as well as of chromoso mal Smal macrorestriction and Tn916 hybridization patterns, clonal rel ationship was established for seven strains whereas the other strains were considered to be independent. Nine and seven of the Gm(r) plasmid s carried Tn4001-like and Tn4001-truncated structures, respectively; t he latter structures were truncated in the right-hand flanking extremi ty of the element.