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Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection
Published on: October 25, 2013
The epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
1Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Antwerp Wilrijkstraat 10, B-2650 Antwerp, Belgium. herman.goossens@uza.uia.ac.be
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
|October 13, 2006
Summary
Epidemiology of vanA-carrying enterococci differs between Europe and the USA. Differences in antibiotic use in humans and animals may explain these variations, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Enterococci are significant nosocomial pathogens.
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) pose a major public health threat.
- The epidemiology of VRE, particularly vanA gene-carrying strains, varies globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiological differences of vanA-carrying enterococci between Europe and the USA.
- To explore potential factors contributing to these observed epidemiological variations.
Main Methods:
- Comparative epidemiological analysis.
- Review of existing literature and surveillance data from Europe and the USA.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in the prevalence and genetic characteristics of vanA-carrying enterococci were observed between Europe and the USA.
- These epidemiological disparities suggest distinct transmission dynamics and reservoirs in the two regions.
Conclusions:
- The epidemiology of vanA-carrying enterococci is not uniform across continents.
- Disparities in antibiotic usage patterns in human and animal populations are likely contributors to the observed differences.
- Further research is essential to elucidate the precise mechanisms driving these variations and inform targeted control strategies.
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