ABSTRACT
Enterococci have been recognized as clinically important pathogens. Among more than one dozen species of Enterococcus species, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are major pathogens. Vancomycin resistant Enterococci [VRE] strains have been spread worldwide among inpatients and outpatients. This study was designed to study phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of VRE isolates from inpatients and outpatients. Of 193 enterococci isolates, 178 strains were identified as E. faecalis and as 15 E.faecium . Out of 193 isolates strains of enterococci, 22 were detected as VRE. All of these strains were isolated from fecal [6 starins] or clinical samples [16] of hospitalized patients. The PCR revealed VanA genotype in 10 E. faecium and 2 E. faecalis strains, whereas VanB genotype was detected in 5 E.faecium and 5 E.feacalis strains. No VanC genotype was detected among VRE strains. Due to limited published studies in Iran for VRE strains, we are not able tot compare our results with other studies, but our findings showed that VRE strains were isolated from normal flora and clinical samples, on the other hand the VanA genotype is more than VanB among VRE strains