Detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization in a children's hospital.
BACKGROUND
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are important nosocomial pathogens in many hospitals. The true prevalence of VRE in pediatric hospitals is not known.


METHODS
A surveillance study was performed at a pediatric tertiary care medical center by using vancomycin-containing screening media.


RESULTS
Six children (of 112 screened) were found to be colonized with VRE. Colonized patients had a history of receiving broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents.


CONCLUSIONS
In the absence of VRE infections, surveillance studies can help determine the extent of VRE colonization and support infection control measures.
Christenson
J C
JC
Hospital Epidemiology Program and Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Primary Children's Medical Center, and the Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
Korgenski
E K
EK
Jenkins
E
E
Daly
J A
JA
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000145:classification*; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000145:classification*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012703:Serotyping; D014589:Utah; D014640:Vancomycin
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin