ENTEROCOCCUS SPP, EPIDEMIC ORGANISM

The Emergence of Enterococcus spp. resistant to aminoglycosides, beta- lactams and/or glycopeptides has revealed that outbreaks caused by thi s microorganism may occur. The reservoirs of these microorganisms are infected or colonized patients and epidemic strains are transmitted fr om a patient to another via the hands of the personnel or through cont aminated fomites. Transfer of infected/colonized patients to another s ervice or hospital also plays an important role in the spread of epide mic strains. Use of bacterial epidemiological markers can be useful fo r investigation of outbreaks caused by multiresistant enterococci.