Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp.: clinical characteristics and risk factors

Abstract

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) have emerged as a relevant multidrug-resistant pathogen and potencially lethal etiology of healthcare associated infections worldwide. This study intends to show the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of patients with VRE in a Hospital in South Brazil. A retrospective study was conducted from January 2005 to November 2007. A total of 122 VRE were identified in this period at the University Hospital of Londrina. All patients with VRE clinical culture have identified and their medical records have reviewed. The presence of colonization was evaluated through rectal swab cultures, and the species identification of clinical samples was performed by automated method MicroScan®. The mean age of patients was 54 years. Urinary tract (68.0%) and blood (23.8%) were the most frequent sites, and ICU was the largest sector of occurrence (49.2%). E. faecium was the predominant species, in 82.8% of cases. The risk factors presents were length of hospitalization (mean 58.2 days), previous use of antimicrobials and invasive procedure, such as use of central venous catheter, urinary catheter and mechanical ventilation. Control barriers and surveillance cultures are essential to prevent the VRE spread. The results obtained in this study contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiological dynamics of infections and the spread of VRE in University Hospital of Londrina.