Related Experiment Videos
Natural history of colonization with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium
M A Montecalvo1, H de Lencastre, M Carraher
1Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla 10595, USA.
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) colonization is common in oncology patients, persisting for weeks and even years. VREF colonization is significantly more prevalent than infection, highlighting the need for effective control strategies.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Microbiology
- Hospital Epidemiology
Background:
- Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) poses a significant healthcare challenge.
- Understanding VREF colonization is crucial for infection control in vulnerable patient populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence, duration, and genetic diversity of VREF colonization.
- To compare VREF colonization rates with VREF infection rates.
Main Methods:
- Surveillance cultures (perianal swabs) on admission and weekly in an oncology unit.
- Molecular typing of VREF isolates using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and vanA hybridization.
- Analysis of VREF colonization in patients during hospitalization and after readmission.
Main Results:
- VREF colonization rate was 16.6 per 1,000 patient-hospital days, 10.6 times higher than infection rate.
- Colonization persisted for at least 7 weeks in most patients and could last over a year.
- 61% of readmitted patients remained colonized with VREF; some patients harbored multiple VREF strains.
Conclusions:
- VREF colonization is significantly more prevalent than infection in oncology patients.
- Persistent VREF colonization can extend beyond hospitalization, posing long-term risks.
- Molecular methods confirm prolonged colonization and potential for diverse VREF strains.