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[Molecular characterization of a glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecalis outbreak in an intensive care unit]

María Dolores Maciá1, Carlos Juan, Antonio Oliver

  • 1Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. mmaciaromero@hotmail.com

Enfermedades Infecciosas Y Microbiologia Clinica
|September 28, 2005
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

An intensive care unit (ICU) experienced an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) infections between January and August 2003. All eight VRE isolates were vanA-positive and genetically identical, confirming the outbreak.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Context:

  • Glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) infections pose a significant threat in healthcare settings, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs).
  • The emergence of VRE necessitates rapid detection and characterization to control transmission.

Purpose:

  • To investigate an apparent outbreak of VRE in an ICU.
  • To determine the genetic relatedness and vancomycin resistance mechanism of VRE isolates.

Summary:

  • During January-August 2003, eight patients in an ICU yielded VRE. Antibiotic susceptibility testing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and PCR for the vanA gene were performed.
  • All eight VRE isolates were confirmed to be vanA-positive and exhibited an identical PFGE pattern.
  • This genetic similarity indicated a common source and confirmed an outbreak of VRE within the ICU.

Impact:

  • The findings highlight the importance of molecular typing methods like PFGE for identifying VRE outbreaks.
  • Understanding the epidemiology of VRE transmission is crucial for implementing effective infection control strategies in ICUs.
  • This study underscores the need for vigilant surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in critical care environments.

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