TMSS Medical College Journal

Objective: The genus Enterococcus is of increasing significance as a cause of nosocomial infections and this trend is exacerbated by the development of antibiotic resistance. The aims of this study were to investigate the possible associations between virulence profiles and biofilm formation in 56biofilm producing Enterococcus strains isolated from urinary tract infection in Bangladesh. Materials & Method: Biofilm of isolated Enterococci was detected by tissue culture plate method (TCP). PCR was done for detection of virulence genes. Results: Among the virulence genes, esp and ebp positive biofilm forming isolates were significantly higher (P =.0001) than esp and ebp negatives isolates. Conclusion: The purpose of this study was to show different virulence genes profiles, to establish possible relationship between virulence factors and biofilm formation.

Enterococci are gram-positive bacteria which are normal inhabitants of gastrointestinal tracts of humans.** It is recognized that they cause serious infection such as endocarditis, UTI, septicemia, post-operative wound infection, meningitis. “> It is believed that nosocomial Enterococci might have virulence elements that increase their ability to colonize hospitalized patients.” Several Enterococcal pathogenic factors have been identified including adhesions and secreted virulence factors. The most important adhesion factors are aggregation substance (asa), extracellular surface protein (esp), adhesion of collagen from E. faecalis (ace), endocarditis and biofilm associated pilli (ebp).” As a virulence factor, aggregation substance increases bacterial adherence to renal tubular cells." Extracellular surface protein (esp) contributes colonization and biofilm formation of Enterococci and leads to resistance to stresses and adhesion to eukaryotic cells such as those of endocarditis and UTL>*® The ability of Enterococci to produce biofilms is fundamental in causing endodontic and urinary tract infections, as well as endocarditis. The formation of pili by Enterococci is necessary for biofilm formation, the gene cluster associated with this being ebp (endocaditis and biofilm-associated pili).