COMPARISON OF 5 SELECTIVE MEDIA FOR IDENTIFYING FECAL CARRIAGE OF VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCI

There is no uniformly accepted method for detecting colonization with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The sensitivities of five cult ure methods were determined for patients known to harbor VRE. Of 189 i npatients, 101 were found to harbor VRE by at least one method. Three methods detected fewer than half of the cultures. Campylobacter agar i dentified 70% of patients. Enterococcosel broth (containing vancomycin and aztreonam) identified 88% and may be preferred over other media f or routine surveillance.