[First infection with vancomycin resistant type VanA enterococci in a Norwegian hospital]

Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 1998 Mar 20;118(8):1188-90.
[Article in Norwegian]

Abstract

Enterococci are part of the normal human and animal bowel flora. They are considered bacteria of relatively low virulence, but are important nosocomial pathogens. In the context of their intrinsic resistance to a number of antimicrobial agents, the rapid emergence of multiresistant enterococci is alarming. As inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract, they come into close contact with other bacteria and may pass antibiotic resistance genes to them. We report the first case of infection with a VanA vancomycin-resistant. Enterococcus in Norway. The strain was identified as Enterococcus faccium with high level resistance to aminoglycosides, ampicillin, teicoplanin and vancomycin. The VanA phenotype was confirmed by PCR detection of the vanA gene. Transmission, treatment, prevention, and control of infections with vancomycin-resistant enterococci is discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial
  • Enterococcus faecium / drug effects*
  • Enterococcus faecium / genetics
  • Enterococcus faecium / immunology
  • Female
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / immunology
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / transmission
  • Humans
  • Phenotype
  • Vancomycin / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Vancomycin