title: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in hospitalized children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine the epidemiology and risk factors for colonization with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey; case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children's hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric oncology patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Contact isolation, restriction of vancomycin prescribing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a high prevalence of colonization with vancomycin-resistant enterococci among pediatric oncology patients. The length of hospitalization and the administration of vancomycin and other intravenous antibiotics was associated with colonization. Prevention of colonization was associated with restriction of vancomycin use and contact isolation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vancomycin use may predispose to colonization with vancomycin-resistant E faecium. Vancomycin-resistant E faecium may be nosocomially spread. Contact isolation and restriction of vancomycin use may prevent spread of vancomycin-resistant E faecium.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Schneider Children's Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY 11042.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cercenado
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eliopoulos
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Isenberg
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004363:Drug Utilization; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006760:Hospitalization; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014640:Vancomycin