Real-time PCR surveillance of vanA for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus             faecium.
In Korea, the incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection             has recently been increasing, with a clinical isolation rate of up to 25%. We             evaluated the clinical usefulness of real-time PCR for the detection of the vanA             gene over conventional culture in patients confirmed as being VRE-colonized. During             the evaluation stage, 100 consecutive clinical specimens were analyzed for the             presence of the vanA gene via real-time PCR, for which 4 specimen preparations             were used. During the application stage, 1,115 specimens from 82 patients were             monitored for 20 months by vanA real-time PCR. For isolates prepared via incubation             in broth for 24 h, the PCR results were concordant with those of the conventional             method. The median value of the time spent in isolation and the number of test             repeats from detection to release from isolation was 71 days and 5.5, respectively.             The optimal negative test number for the release from isolation was ≥3. In conclusion,             the real-time PCR method is more sensitive than, and is expected to replace, the             conventional VRE surveillance method.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Taek Soo
TS
Kim
Hye Lin
HL
Kwon
Sang Hoon
SH
Song
Kyoung-Ho
KH
Song
Hong Bin
HB
Kim
Kyoung Un
KU
Park
Junghan
J
Song
Eui-Chong
EC
Kim
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D014640:Vancomycin