Illumina RNA Sequencing of E. faecium 1,231,410 after exposure to chlorhexidine. Enterococcus faecium 1,231,410

Enterococcus faecium is a gram-positive bacterium that is among the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections. Vancomycin-resistant E. faecium (VREfm) is of particular concern in hospitals. Chlorhexidine is a bisbiguanide antiseptic that is routinely used for infection control in hospitals. VREfm may be exposed to chlorhexidine at supra- and sub-inhibitory concentrations as a result of chlorhexidine bathing and other clinical applications of chlorhexidine. Illumina RNA sequencing was used to investigate the transcriptional responses of E. faecium 1,231,410, a VREfm, to a chlorhexidine-containing consumer product. Differentially expressed genes were compared between unexposed cultures (0X MIC, control) and cultures exposed to the minimum inhibitory concentration (1X MIC) of the chlorhexidine product for 15 minutes. Two independent experimental trials were performed.