Hospital-Acquired Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci: A Report of 2-year Experience

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are becoming a major concern in medical practice. Their increased prevalence and their ability to transfer vancomycin resistance to other bacteria have made them a subject of close scrutiny and intense investigation. Colonization is usually acquired by susceptible hosts in an environment with a high rate of patient colonization with VRE. The aim of this study was to define the prevalence and risk factors of infections with VRE in Amir-Alam Hospital (Tehran, Iran). Fecal samples of 422 newly admitted patients (Group A) and 93 patients with either at least 48-hours of hospitalization or chronic renal failure under hemodialysis (group B) were evaluated for VRE isolates by MIC method in microbiology laboratory in Pasteur Institute of Iran. Stool cultures were positive for enterococci in 310 (73.4 %) and 89 (95.7 %) patients in group A and B, respectively. The prevalence of VRE isolates was 1.42 % (6 patients from 422) in group A and 7.52 % (7 patients from 93) in group B by MIC method (P < 0.05). In group A, a significant relationship was found between the VRE colonization and underlying conditions like as history of hospitalization and surgery within previous year and antibiotic therapy within three months ago. Prevalence of VRE colonization is increasing in hospitals. Our results indicate the importance of underlying diseases as risk factors for VRE colonization.