Surveillance strategies and impact of vancomycin-resistant enterococcal colonization and infection in critically ill patients

Objective To determine the optimal site and frequency for vancomycin-resist ant enterococci (VRE) surveillance to minimize the number of days of VRE co lonization before identification and subsequent isolation. Summary Background Data The increasing prevalence of VRE and the limited th erapeutic options for its treatment demand early identification of coloniza tion to prevent transmission. Methods The authors conducted a 3-month prospective observational study in medical and surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients with a stay of 3 da ys or more. Oropharyngeal and rectal swabs, tracheal and gastric aspirates, and urine specimens were cultured for VRE on admission to the ICU and twic e weekly until discharge. Results Of 117 evaluable patients, 23 (20%) were colonized by VRE. Twelve p atients (10%) had VRE infection. Of nine patients who developed infections after ICU admission, eight were colonized before infection. The rectum was the first site of colonization in 92% of patients, and positive rectal cult ures preceded 89% of infections acquired in the ICU. This was supported by strain delineations using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Twice-weekly re ctal surveillance alone identified 93% of the maximal estimated VRE-related patient-days; weekly or admission-only surveillance was less effective. As a test for future VRE infection, rectal surveillance culture twice weekly had a negative predictive value of 99%, a positive predictive value of 44%, and a relative risk for infection of 34, Conclusions Twice-weekly rectal VRE surveillance of critically ill patients is an effective strategy for early identification of colonized patients at increased risk for VRE transmission, infection, and death.