TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCUS

Efforts to find antimicrobial agents which are effective against vanco mycin-resistant enterococcus have been unsuccessful. One promising ant ibiotic, quinupristin/dalfopristin, has, however, been used with a suc cess rate of approximately 60%. Other antibiotics are under investigat ion. Prevention is the best policy for the control of vancomycin-resis tant enterococcus and includes contact isolation, the cohorting of pat ients, the appropriate use of vancomycin and education of patients and staff.