Management of an Outbreak of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in the Medical Intensive Care Unit of a Cancer Center

2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hend Hanna ◽  
Jan Umphrey ◽  
Jeffrey Tarrand ◽  
Michelle Mendoza ◽  
Issam Raad

AbstractBetween November 1996 and February 1997, 17 episodes of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection or colonization (9 infections, 8 colonizations), all with the same or a similar genomic DNA pattern, were identified in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) of a tertiary-care cancer hospital. The cases were genotypically traced to a patient who was admitted to the hospital in September 1996 and who, by December 1996, had four different admissions to the MICU. Multifaceted infection control measures, including decontamination of the environment and of nondisposable equipment, halted the nosocomial transmission of VRE in the MICU.

2002 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 466-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Gardiner ◽  
Sheila Murphey ◽  
Elizabeth Ossman ◽  
Donald Jungkind

AbstractPatients admitted to a medical intensive care unit during 21 days had rectal and urine samples cultured for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The prevalence rate was 55.3%. Only enteral feedings were associated with acquisition of VRE. One-quarter of VRE transmission resulted from acquisition in the study unit, 35% arrived from other units, and 15% from other hospital.


2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. S142
Author(s):  
Min-hui Lien ◽  
Han-yueh Kuo ◽  
Hui-ching Liang ◽  
Mei-laun Huang ◽  
Yu-chun Liu ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Stefanie Kampmeier ◽  
Hauke Tönnies ◽  
Carlos L. Correa-Martinez ◽  
Alexander Mellmann ◽  
Vera Schwierzeck

Abstract Background Currently, hospitals have been forced to divert substantial resources to cope with the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It is unclear if this situation will affect long-standing infection prevention practices and impact on healthcare associated infections. Here, we report a nosocomial cluster of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) that occurred on a COVID-19 dedicated intensive care unit (ICU) despite intensified contact precautions during the current pandemic. Whole genome sequence-based typing (WGS) was used to investigate genetic relatedness of VRE isolates collected from COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients during the outbreak and to compare them to environmental VRE samples. Methods Five VRE isolated from patients (three clinical and two screening samples) as well as 11 VRE and six vancomycin susceptible Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) samples from environmental sites underwent WGS during the outbreak investigation. Isolate relatedness was determined using core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). Results WGS revealed two genotypic distinct VRE clusters with genetically closely related patient and environmental isolates. The cluster was terminated by enhanced infection control bundle strategies. Conclusions Our results illustrate the importance of continued adherence to infection prevention and control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent VRE transmission and healthcare associated infections.


2021 ◽  
pp. 3-5
Author(s):  
Sunita Agarwal ◽  
Nazneen Pathan ◽  
Shivra Batra ◽  
Rajni Sharma

Introduction: The emergence of High Level Aminoglycoside Resistance (Resistant to Gentamycin and Streptomycin) and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci among Indoor and Intensive Care Unit admitted patient presents a serious challenge for clinicians. Objective: To determine Enterococcal burden in blood and urine specimens and to detect the prevalence of High Level Aminoglycoside Resistance and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci. Material & Methods: One hundred ten Enterococci were isolated from blood and urine samples and processed according to standard laboratory protocol. Species identication and sensitivity was done using the VITEK 2 automated system (Biomerieux France) with the cards GPID and AST 67 respectively. Results: Out of 110 Enterococci isolates, 36 were from blood and 74 from urine were detected. Different Species isolated were Enterococcal faecium (59%), Enterococcal faecalis (34%), Enterococcal rafnosus (2.7%), Enterococcal gallinarum (1.8%), Enterococcal casseliavus (0.9%) and Enterococcal duran (0.9%).Out of 36 blood isolates, 14 (38%) were found to be both High Level Gentamycin Resistant (HLGR) & High Level Streptomycin Resistant (HLSR), 10 (27%) were only HLGR and 8 (22%) were only HLSR. 20 strain (55%) of Enterococcus species isolated in blood were VRE. All VRE strains were found to be resistant to both aminoglycosides ( HLAR).Among the 74 urinary isolates, 24 (34%) were found to be both HLGR & HLSR, only HLGR was observed in 20 (27%) and HLSR was observed in 11 (14%) isolates. 24 strains (34%) of Enterococcus species were found to be vancomycin resistant in urine. 23 strains out of 24 were resistant to high level of aminoglycosides. Conclusion: The prevalence of HLAR and VRE is very high among Enterococcus specimens from indoor/ intensive care unit patients. Early species identication and antibiotic sensitivity result can help in better clinical outcome.


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