title: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital: a 5-year study.
abstract: The emergence of hospital acquired infections with bacteria resistant to antimicrobials such as vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) has become a worldwide concern. The authors studied the prevalence and surveillance of 5 years study of VRE in King Chulalongkon Memorial Hospital and phenotype of these resistance strains. A total of enterococci 1854 isolates were collected from clinical specimens from 1995 to 1999. Screening vancomycin resistance was identified by the agar plated method and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of vancomycin was determined for vancomycin-resistance strains by E-test. The results demonstated that 15 (0.81%) VRE were isolated from 1,854 specimens. Fourteen VRE were identified as Enterococcus faecium and one strain was Enterococcus faecalis. All of these strains, carrying the VanB phenotype, were susceptible to teicoplanin. Similar to other studies, most VRE strains are E. faecium. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first VRE study carried out in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. The results showed a low prevalence of VRE and surveillance of 5 years study demonstated a gradual increase of VRE. Therefore, it is important to continue periodic surveys of VRE to prevent the spread of VRE in hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, The Thai Red Cross Soceity, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sumanee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nilgate
authors.forename: Pongpun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nunthapisud
authors.forename: Anan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chongthaleong
mesh_terms: D016983:Enterococcus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013997:Time Factors; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*