Influence Factors for Duration of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci's Spontaneous Decolonization

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing the spontaneous decolonization period of vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) species in pediatric patients. METHODS: The medical records of patients presenting positive VRE cultures between January 2005 and November 2010 at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea, were reviewed retrospectively. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the average number of days for decolonization (325 days). Clinical characteristics were compared between shorter VRE colonization patients (325 days, n=110). RESULTS: There were 151 patients who had more than 1 year of follow up period or confirmed of VRE decolonization among patients who were identified with VRE. The average age at the time of initial VRE colonization was significantly younger in shorter decolonization group than in prolonged decolonization group (44.9 months vs 40.9 months, P=0.040). The prolonged decolonization group received more vancomycin treatments after VRE colonization in comparison with patients in shorter decolonization group (7.0% vs 27.2%, P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: For the duration of VRE colonization, it was found that the initial age of acquiring VRE and use of antibiotics were important factors. Antibiotics should be used properly and precisely in order to treat infectious diseases and to control the colonization of antibiotic resistant bacteria.