Novel linear plasmids carrying vanA cluster drives the spread of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus faecium in India

•In India, the burden of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium is growing; however, the genetic basis is largely unexplored.•Sequence types (STs) of VRE were highly heterogeneous, and 24 distinct STs were identified.•Novel Tn1546 (vanA) variants carrying IS256 and ISL3 elements. The vanA gene was identified on both pRUM-like circular and pELF-like linear plasmids. Co-location of vanA (encoding vancomycin resistance) and optrA (coding for resistance to linezolid) genes on transferable plasmids is worrisome.