Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci in neonates

Fecal-oral transmission of vancomycin-resistant strains of Enterococci (VRE ), which colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, has led to nosocominal epidemics in recent years. The aim of this study was to establish the incid ence and associated factors of fecal colonization with VRE in neonates. In our hospital 110 rectal swab specimens collected in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were examined for VRE. For comparison, rectal swabs collec ted from 42 healthy neonates on the obstretrics ward were also analyzed. Of the NICU patients, 8 had VRE MICs of 8-64 mug/ml for vancomycin and 2-32 m ug/ml for teicoplanin, whereas none of the healthy newborns, had VRE (p<0.0 5). All patients positive for VRE had factors known to be associated with V RE carriage, such as low birth weight or long-term antibiotic therapy.