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Case report vancomycin -resistant Enterococcus faecium VanA phenotype: first documented isolation in India
Srujana Mohanty1, Benu Dhawan, R S Gadepalli
1Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health
|November 28, 2006
Summary
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) infections pose a significant threat. This case highlights a fatal VRE sepsis in a child in India, emphasizing the urgent need for infection control.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), particularly Enterococcus faecium, are significant nosocomial pathogens.
- VRE poses a serious threat to patients with compromised immune systems.
Observation:
- A 3-year-old child with a patent ductus arteriosus developed a central venous catheter-related infection.
- The infection was caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) with a high-level vancomycin resistance (MIC > or = 256 microg/ml).
- The VRE isolate was also resistant to teicoplanin, exhibiting the VanA phenotype.
Findings:
- This represents the first reported isolation of VanA phenotype Enterococcus faecium in India.
- The child likely succumbed to sepsis caused by this highly resistant VRE strain.
Implications:
- This case underscores the critical need for enhanced surveillance and infection control measures for VRE in healthcare settings, especially in pediatric populations.
- The emergence of highly resistant VRE strains necessitates the development of alternative therapeutic strategies and rapid diagnostic methods.
- Further research is crucial to understand the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of VRE in India.
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