title: The role of chloramphenicol in the treatment of bloodstream infection due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.
abstract: The incidence of bacteremia due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) has increased markedly in recent years. We investigated the role of chloramphenicol in its treatment. All cases of VRE bacteremia occurring at our facility during a 45-month period were analyzed. The response to chloramphenicol, its effect on mortality, and the incidence of adverse effects were assessed. Fifty-one patients (65.4%) received chloramphenicol. Among patients in whom a response could be assessed, 22 (61.1%) of 36 demonstrated a clinical response, while 34 (79.1%) of 43 showed a microbiological response. Forty-two patients (53.8%) died as a result of the bacteremia. Although the mortality rate was lower for patients treated with chloramphenicol, the difference was not significant (odds ratio = 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-1.85; P = .49), nor was there an association between earlier initiation of therapy and reduced mortality (P = .45). In cases with central line-related bacteremia, there was no difference in mortality among patients treated with chloramphenicol, line removal, or both (P = .36). Although 16 patients (31.4%) had adverse effects, none could be definitely attributed to chloramphenicol. Although chloramphenicol was well-tolerated, no significant effect of its use on mortality could be demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lautenbach
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Bilker
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Brennan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D014640:Vancomycin