Enterococcal bacteraemia: a prospective study of 125 episodes.
One hundred and twenty-five episodes of enterococcal bacteraemia occurring over a 50-month period were studied prospectively. Enterococcus faecium was the commonest species, accounting for 76 (59.8%) of the 127 isolates. Overall, 33.1% of isolates were resistant to ampicillin and one isolate (0.8%) to vancomycin; high-level gentamicin resistance was detected in 4.3% of 93 isolates tested. The percentage of nosocomial episodes was 70.4, and 95.2% of the patients had significant underlying illness. Central venous catheters (CVCs) were the commonest source of infection. Eighty-four per cent of episodes were ultimately treated with appropriate antibiotics. The overall mortality rate was 17.6%, and that directly attributable to infection was 8.0%. An increased mortality rate was observed in intensive care and neonatal unit patients, and in patients who had received antimicrobial therapy in the 2 weeks prior to enterococcemia. CVC-related infections were associated with a reduced mortality. No other clinical or microbiological factors were found to influence outcome.
Department of Microbiology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
J
J
Gray
P J
PJ
Marsh
D
D
Stewart
S J
SJ
Pedler
D000668:Ampicillin Resistance; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents