title: Prevalence and factors associated with rectal vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization in two intensive care units in São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are important pathogens causing nosocomial infections, and there is reason for concern about their resistance and great ability to spread in hospital environments, especially intensive-care units (ICU). To determine the prevalence of rectal colonization by VRE, and the risk factors associated with their presence, rectal surveillance swabs were taken from patients under treatment in two intensive-care units (one medical and another both medical and surgical) at São Paulo Hospital, over a two-year period. Thirty-three percent of the 147 patients evaluated had VRE. The only significant variable in the logistic regression was the length of stay in the ICU.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Epidemiology Committee, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. ghfurtado@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Guilherme Henrique Campos
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.forename: Sinaida Teixeira
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: Sérgio Barsanti
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Wey
authors.forename: Eduardo Alexandrino Servolo
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Medeiros
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance