Enterococcal nosocomial infection: epidemiology and practice

Caring for patients susceptible to enterococcal infections is a part of practice for nurses working in today's hospital units. While enterococci are not particularly virulent organisms, they are well suited to causing infection in hospitalized patients, especially in the very old, the seriously ill, and the immunosuppressed. Despite increased understanding of the clinical threat posed by multiresistant strains of enterococci, the incidence of nosocomial enterococcal infection is growing. In this article the author examines the epidemiology and risk factors for colonization and infection with enterococcal bacteria and provides a brief review of antibiotic sensitivities for the organisms. A case study illustrates the course and consequence of infection with multiresistant enterococcus for the seriously ill patient. The importance of education of health professionals in prevention and control of enterococcal infection and superinfection is discussed.