Cecal ligation and puncture induced sepsis impairs host defense against Enterococcus faecium peritonitis

Multiresistant and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) can cause serious infections in hospitalized patients with various co-morbid diseases. We investigated the course of VRE peritonitis after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis and compared this to sham operated mice.

Mice were subjected to CLP or sham surgery. Forty-eight hours thereafter four groups were created by subjecting mice to peritoneal injection of either VRE or saline.

Mice infected with VRE after CLP were severely impaired in eliminating VRE from the peritoneal cavity and distant body sites. These mice failed to mount an early inflammatory response at the primary site of VRE infection. VRE superinfection did not influence CLP-induced organ damage or polymicrobial bacterial loads.

Sublethal polymicrobial sepsis greatly facilitates infection and dissemination of VRE. VRE does not influence the course of CLP-induced sepsis.