Related Experiment Videos
[Infectious endocarditis caused by a glycopeptide-resistant enterococus].
W Jouaihia1, R Ghozzi, A Kamoun
1Service de Microbiologie, EPS Charles Nicolle, Tunis.
La Tunisie Medicale
|January 13, 2001
Summary
The first clinical isolate of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium caused prosthetic valve endocarditis, leading to treatment failure. This highlights the need for antibiotic susceptibility testing and control measures for emerging resistant strains.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Enterococci are a significant cause of infective endocarditis.
- Antibiotic resistance in enterococci presents substantial therapeutic challenges.
Observation:
- A clinical isolate of glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium was identified from a blood culture.
- The patient had prosthetic valve endocarditis.
Findings:
- The strain exhibited high-level resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin (MIC > 256 mg/l).
- It showed low-level resistance to gentamicin (MIC = 6 mg/l) and susceptibility to ampicillin (MIC = 1.5 mg/l).
- Therapeutic failure occurred, necessitating surgical intervention.
Implications:
- Treatment of multiresistant Enterococcus infections requires evaluating the bactericidal activity of antibiotic combinations.
- Implementing control measures is crucial to combat the spread of emerging antibiotic resistance.