Molecular analysis of Enterococcus faecalis isolates collected during a 4-year period

In the present research, we aimed to determine the characteristics of E. faecalis strains collected from an Iranian Children’s Hospital for four years. Sixty-seven E. faecalis isolates with virulence genes detection, variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR), and multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) typing were investigated.  A high frequency of virulence genes belonged to gelatinase (73%) and Enterococcus faecalis (62%).  The MLVA of 67 E. faecalis isolates revealed 52 VNTR patterns and 38 MLVA types (MTs).  Furthermore, genetic diversities with the majority of the MT1 as a major MT in different Wards of the Children’s Hospital were found.