Hospital-acquired vancomycin-resistant enterococci: now appearing in Kuala Lumpur Hospital
A W Zubaidah1, A Ariza, S Azmi
1Department of Pathology, Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
|January 25, 2007
Summary
Kuala Lumpur Hospital reports its first case of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), a growing global threat. A patient with chronic renal failure was successfully treated with linezolid, highlighting the importance of laboratory detection.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Microbiology
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Hospital-acquired vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) represent a significant and escalating global health concern.
- VRE infections have been increasingly reported worldwide since the late 1980s.
- Kuala Lumpur Hospital had not previously documented cases of VRE.
Observation:
- This report details the first confirmed case of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) identified at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
- The identified VRE strain exhibited the vanA phenotype.
- The case involved a patient with chronic renal failure.
Findings:
- The patient diagnosed with VRE and chronic renal failure received successful treatment with linezolid.
- The microbiology laboratory was crucial for the identification and detection of this VRE case.
- This marks the initial identification of VRE within the Kuala Lumpur Hospital setting.
Implications:
- Early detection and laboratory surveillance are critical for managing VRE outbreaks in healthcare settings.
- Successful treatment with linezolid offers a therapeutic option for VRE infections.
- This case underscores the need for continued vigilance against the spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.
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