Char Tsui Shan. / Thesis submitted in: October 2000. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-114). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract (in English) --- p.i / Abstract (in Chinese) --- p.iv / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Table of Contents --- p.vii / Contents of Chapter 1: Introduction --- p.viii / Contents of Chapter 2: Materials & Methods --- p.viii / Contents of Chapter 3: Results --- p.x / Lists of Tables --- p.xi / List of Figures --- p.xii / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction --- p.1-24 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Material & Methods --- p.25 -41 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Results --- p.42 -76 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Discussion --- p.77 -89 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Future Work --- p.90 -91 / References --- p.92 -107 / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1. --- Taxonomy of Enterococci --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2. --- Natural Habitat of Enterococci --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3. --- Characteristics of Enterococci --- p.2 / Chapter 1.4. --- Identification to Species Level of Enterococci --- p.2 / Chapter 1.5. --- Clinical Significance of Enterococci --- p.5 / Chapter 1.6 --- Clinical Management of Enterococcal Infections --- p.8 / Chapter 1.7. --- Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Enterococci --- p.8 / Chapter 1.8. --- Antimicrobial Resistance of Enterococci --- p.11 / Chapter 1.9. --- Molecular typing of enterococci --- p.16 / Chapter 1.10. --- Epidemiological Studies of Enterococci --- p.19 / Chapter 1.11. --- Objectives --- p.21 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Materials & Methods / Chapter 2.1. --- Collection of strains --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2. --- Quality control strains --- p.23 / Chapter 2.3. --- Identification of strains to genus level --- p.23 / Chapter 2.4. --- Identification of strains to species level --- p.24 -27 / Chapter 2.4.1. --- By commercially available biochemical method / Chapter 2.4.2. --- By molecular method 226}0ؤ multiplex PCR / Chapter 2.4.2.1. --- Source of primers / Chapter 2.4.2.2. --- Extraction of bacterial DNA / Chapter 2.4.2.3. --- Multiplex PCR / Chapter 2.4.2.4. --- Analysis of PCR products agarose gel electrophoresis / Chapter 2.4.3. --- By conventional biochemical methods --- p.27 / Chapter 2.5. --- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing --- p.27 -30 / Chapter 2.5.1. --- Preparation of antimicrobial agent stock solution / Chapter 2.5.2. --- Preparation of agar medium / Chapter 2.5.3. --- Preparation of inoculum and inoculation of plates / Chapter 2.5.4. --- Incubation and reading of plates / Chapter 2.6. --- Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance --- p.30 -35 / Chapter 2.6.1. --- Amplification of vancomycin resistance genes in enterococci by multiplex PCR / Chapter 2.6.1.1. --- Isolates / Chapter 2.6.1.2. --- Primers / Chapter 2.6.1.3. --- Extraction of bacterial DNA and PCR / Chapter 2.6.2. --- "Detection of gene coding for aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme (AAC6'-APH2"") by PCR" / Chapter 2.6.2.1. --- Isolates / Chapter 2.6.2.2. --- Primers / Chapter 2.6.2.3. --- Extraction of bacterial DNA and PCR / Chapter 2.6.3. --- Detection of β-lactamase in enterococci / Chapter 2.7. --- Molecular typing of enterococci by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis --- p.35 -37 / Chapter 2.7.1. --- Incorporation of chromosomal DNA into agarose plugs / Chapter 2.7.2. --- Digestion of chromosomal DNA in agarose plugs with restriction enzyme SmaI / Chapter 2.7.3. --- Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis / Chapter 2.7.4. --- Cluster analysis / Chapter 2.7.5. --- Data analysis / Chapter 2.8. --- Research plan --- p.37 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Results / Chapter 3.1. --- Identification of enterococci by API 20 Strep and PCR --- p.39-46 / Chapter 3.2. --- Antimicrobial susceptibilities of enterococci --- p.47 -54 / Chapter 3.3. --- Detection of vancomycin resistance genes in enterococci by PCR --- p.55 -57 / Chapter 3.4. --- "Detection of gene coding for aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme (AAC6'- APH2"") by PCR" --- p.58 -60 / Chapter 3.5. --- Detection of β-lactamase in enterococci --- p.61 / Chapter 3.6. --- Resistance pattern of enterococci --- p.62 -64 / Chapter 3.7. --- Multiresistant enterococci investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis