title: Vancomycin for multi-drug resistant Enterococcus faecium cholangiohepatitis in a cat.
abstract: A 12-year-old, neutered male domestic shorthair cat was evaluated with a life-long history of intermittent, predominantly small bowel diarrhea and a 3 day history of hematochezia. At presentation, the cat had increased liver enzyme activities and an inflammatory leukogram. Histopathology demonstrated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cholangiohepatitis and pancreatitis. The cholangiohepatitis was associated with a multi-drug resistant Enterococcus faecium. Gallbladder agenesis was also documented. Treatment with vancomycin was safely instituted for 10 days. Clinical signs resolved, however, cure of the bacterial cholangiohepatitis was not achieved. The risk of vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) in human and veterinary medicine is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA. mpressel@iastate.edu
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pressel
authors.forename: Leslie E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Apley
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Simutis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin