Vancomycin-resistant enterococci: mechanisms and clinical observations.
Enterococci are not generally regarded as highly virulent bacterial pathogens. However, resistance to many antimicrobial drugs complicates treatment of enterococcal infections. Acquired resistance to high concentrations of glycopeptide antibiotics, specifically vancomycin, has exacerbated this problem. This article seeks to concisely review the mechanisms of that resistance and its effects on clinical management of enterococcal infections, as well as clinical microbiology and infection control.
Gold
H S
HS
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA. hogold@caregroup.harvard.edu
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003657:Decision Making; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006020:Glycopeptides; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D010641:Phenotype; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006020:Glycopeptides