Virulence Gene’s Relationship With Biofilm Formation and Detection of aac (6’)/aph (2”) in Enterococcus faecalis Isolated From Patients With Urinary Tract Infection

Abstract

Results: The asa1,(aac (6')/aph (2), esp, cylA, and gelE/sprE were detected in 94.7%, 68.4%, 61.1%, 50.5% and 21.1% of E. faecalis isolates, respectively. The hemolysin production and gelatinase activity were seen in 44.2% and 20% of isolates, respectively. 16.8% of E. faecalis isolates showed strong and 83.2% exhibited weak biofilm formation. The percentages of genes encoding virulence factors in E. faecalis which had the ability of strong biofilm formation were as follows: gelE/sprE 25%, esp22.4%, (aac (6')/aph (2) 18.5%, asa1 16.7% and cylA 14.6%. The presence of both aac (6')/aph (2) and esp positive act as a risk factor for biofilm formation (P value < 0.001). Conclusions: There was a significant relationship between biofilm formation and possession of esp and aac (6')/aph (2) genes. There was no evidence between biofilm formation and presence of any other gene. Enterococcal infections associated with biofilm formation have been a serious problem in recent years.