title: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. The 'superbug' scourge that's coming your way.
abstract: Strains of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged and spread widely throughout the United States during the last few years. Multiply-resistant strains of Enterococcus faecium are especially troublesome because they are often resistant to all commercially available antimicrobial agents. At present, VRE infections occur most often in hospitalized patients with severe underlying disease who have undergone invasive procedures and received prolonged courses of broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy. Because therapeutic options are limited, prevention of spread from patients with known cases to other vulnerable patients is essential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, USA.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hagman
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Strausbaugh
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin