ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection is an emerging nosocomial problem. VRE usually multidrug-resistant, poses therapeutic dilemmas. The gene that encodes the resistance against vancomycin may spread the resistance to Staphylococcus aureus. However, there are no well-organized studies on the clinical manifestations and the factors that contribute to mortality in Korea. Herein, this study was focused on the clinical manifestations and mortality risks of patients with VRE infection during 8 years (1994-2001) in a university hospital. Understanding of the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of VRE would help develop control strategy of VRE outbreak in a hospital. METHOD: Sixty seven cases that had the VRE infection in Korea University Guro Hospital from January 1, 1994to December 12, 2001, were reviewed. We analyzed the risk factors of VRE infection and death by using univariable and multivariable statistic analyses. RESULTS: VRE infections have recently been increasing. Most of VRE infections were caused by Enterococcus faecium (85.1%) and Enterococcus faecalis (10.4%). Among 67 cases, 40 cases (59.7%) expressed VanA phenotype, 23 cases (34.3%) expressed VanB phenotype, and 3 cases expressed VanC phenotype (6%). The risk factors for death were renal dysfunction, central venous catheter insertion, and tracheostomy by using univariable analysis. The risk factor for death was renal dysfunction by using multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: VRE has been increasing during the late 1990s in Korea. The VRE infection occurs especially in the patients who have renal dysfunction, long-term hospitalization, and ICU care. The implementation of careful isolation, infection control measures, prudent use of antibiotics, especially vancomycin, and periodic screening of patients populations are required to control VRE infection.
Subject(s)
Humans , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Central Venous Catheters , Enterococcus faecalis , Enterococcus faecium , Epidemiology , Hospitalization , Infection Control , Korea , Mass Screening , Mortality , Phenotype , Risk Factors , Staphylococcus aureus , Tracheostomy , VancomycinABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection is an emerging nosocomial problem. VRE usually multidrug-resistant, poses therapeutic dilemmas. The gene that encodes the resistance against vancomycin may spread the resistance to Staphylococcus aureus. However, there are no well-organized studies on the clinical manifestations and the factors that contribute to mortality in Korea. Herein, this study was focused on the clinical manifestations and mortality risks of patients with VRE infection during 8 years (1994-2001) in a university hospital. Understanding of the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of VRE would help develop control strategy of VRE outbreak in a hospital. METHOD: Sixty seven cases that had the VRE infection in Korea University Guro Hospital from January 1, 1994to December 12, 2001, were reviewed. We analyzed the risk factors of VRE infection and death by using univariable and multivariable statistic analyses. RESULTS: VRE infections have recently been increasing. Most of VRE infections were caused by Enterococcus faecium (85.1%) and Enterococcus faecalis (10.4%). Among 67 cases, 40 cases (59.7%) expressed VanA phenotype, 23 cases (34.3%) expressed VanB phenotype, and 3 cases expressed VanC phenotype (6%). The risk factors for death were renal dysfunction, central venous catheter insertion, and tracheostomy by using univariable analysis. The risk factor for death was renal dysfunction by using multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: VRE has been increasing during the late 1990s in Korea. The VRE infection occurs especially in the patients who have renal dysfunction, long-term hospitalization, and ICU care. The implementation of careful isolation, infection control measures, prudent use of antibiotics, especially vancomycin, and periodic screening of patients populations are required to control VRE infection.