title: [Vancomycin resistant enterococci in Austria].
abstract: This study reports pheno- and genotypical analysis of 9 isolates of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and 5 vancomycin-sensitive enterococci (VSE) in Austria: 5 E, faecium isolates of 4 patients (the sole patients demonstrating VRE at the University Hospital of Innsbruck in 1994 and 1995), 3 glycopeptide-sensitive isolates collected in Innsbruck in February 1996 for epidemiological analysis, and 6 enterococcus isolates from the University Hospitals of Vienna and Graz. The pheno- and genotypical analyses of all glycopeptide highly resistant E. faecium and E. faecalis isolates indicated the presence of VanA type resistance. One E. casseliflavus strain with intrinsic VanC-1 resistance showed a characteristic constitutive low-level resistance to vancomycin and susceptibility to teicoplanin. Genotyping with macro-restriction analysis demonstrated that 3 VRE isolates of the 5 E. faecium specimens were identical; the same applied to 2 VSE isolates. The two patients with VRE had been cared for at the same time in a surgical ICU and likewise, the two patients with VSE were simultaneously treated at a neurological ICU. The genotyping of E. faecalis strains showed that two strains of the three VRE isolates exhibited identical patterns. Epidemiological investigation did not reveal a mode of transmission for this cluster. Two of the 8 patients with VRE died within 60 days after isolation of the bacteria; the doctors in charge did not consider that the enterococci had been the cause of death. The results of our study indicate that oral vancomycin administration to humans is a primary cause of VRE in Austrian hospitals. In Austria approximately 66 kg vancomycin, 20% of it given orally, are administered to patients per year. Approx. 18-20 tons Avotan (active ingredient Avoparcin-10%)/year were used in Austria; as of April 1, 1997 the use of this animal foodstuff supplement is prohibited by the European Commission.
authors.affiliation: Bundesstaatliche bakteriologisch-serologische Untersuchungsanstalt in Innsbruck, Universität Innsbruck.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Allerberger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lass-Flörl
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dierich
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hirschl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Presterl
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klare
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Witte
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001317:Austria; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin