Nosocomial enterococci resistant to vancomycin--United States, 1989-1993

As part of continual surveillance for antibiotic resistance among pathogens associated with nosocomial infections, a recent analysis of data reported to CDC's National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system demonstrated a 20-fold increase in the percentage of enterococci associated with nosocomial infections that are resistant to vancomycin from January 1, 1989, through March 31, 1993. Many of these strains are resistant to all available antimicrobial agents. This report summarizes that analysis.