Recurrent vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus bacteremia: Prevalence, predisposing factors, and strain relatedness

We studied the prevalence of recurrent vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (V RE) bacteremia, predisposing factors, and strain relatedness during a 3 yea r period at our institution. Of 36 inpatients who had episodes of bacteremi a, 3 (8.3%) had recurrent episodes. Predisposing factors were mucositis and neutropenia (1 patient) and chronic renal failure requiring hemodialysis ( 2). Recurrent episodes separated by less than or equal to3 months were caus ed by identical or related strains, and those at greater intervals by disti nct strains. Recurrent VRE bacteremia is uncommon.