Improving the detection rate of vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonisation using groin swabs

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Microbiology
• Hospital Epidemiology

Background:

• Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are significant nosocomial pathogens, particularly impacting immunosuppressed patients.
• Stool culture is the standard for VRE screening but faces practical challenges in clinical settings.
• Timely VRE detection is crucial for infection control and patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of groin swabs as an alternative screening method for VRE detection.
• To compare the sensitivity and timing of VRE detection using groin swabs versus traditional stool cultures.
• To assess the feasibility of using routinely collected samples for VRE surveillance.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study was conducted using groin swabs and stool cultures for VRE detection.
• Groin swabs were processed with broth enrichment for enhanced sensitivity.
• Results were directly compared between the two sample types.

Main Results:

• Stool culture demonstrated higher sensitivity for VRE detection compared to groin swabs alone.
• Groin swabs with broth enrichment enabled earlier detection of VRE carriage in 14 patients.
• This earlier detection was particularly noted in cases where timely stool sample collection was not feasible.

Conclusions:

• Groin swabs, particularly with broth enrichment, offer a valuable adjunct for early VRE detection when stool samples are unavailable or delayed.
• This method can improve VRE surveillance and infection control strategies in healthcare settings.
• Routine groin swab collection may facilitate proactive VRE screening and management.