Özet:

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the possible relationship between virulence factors and clonal relationship between Vancomycin-resistant colonization and infection isolates.  Materials and Methods: A total of 156 Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. (VRE) were collected and grouped as infection and colonization isolates. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to screen specific virulence genes (esp, hyl, asa1, cylA and gelE) and vancomycin resistance genes (vanA, vanB). The clonal relationship among isolates was investigated by the Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) method.  Results: The vanA gene was determined in 86 infection and 64 colonization isolates. esp was the most common virulence gene for both groups (55.8% and 56.25%), followed by hyl (51.1% and 35.9%) that statistically differed between the two groups. The 150 E. faecium isolates carrying the vanA resistance gene were divided into 24 main clusters (A-Y) in PFGE analysis.  Conclusion: When the distribution of virulence genes or genes combinations of the infection and colonization groups was examined, there was no statistical significance of cluster distribution in the two groups. However, hyl gene was found to be more common in infection isolates.