Establishment and application of multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay to identify Enterococcus and vancomycin-resistant genotypes

Objective To establish a multiplex polymerase chain reaction(multiplex MPCR) to identify Enterococcus and its vancomycin-resistant genotypes simultaneously. Methods Eight pairs of primers targeting Enterococcus, E. faecalis and E. faecium specific genes vanA, vanB, vanC1, vanC2/C3, and 16S rDNA were used in one reaction tube. Ninety eight Enterococcus strains isolated from human and animal were identified and their vancomycin-resistant genotypes were detected by using the established multiplex PCR. Results The detection results of the 98 isolates by multiplex PCR were consistent with those by VITEK and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Conclusion The established multiples PCR assay is simple and reliable for the rapid identification of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcu.