Prevalence and factors associated with rectal vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization in two intensive care units in São Paulo, Brazil

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are important pathogens causing nosocomial infections, and there is reason for concern about their resistance and great ability to spread in hospital environments, especially intensive-care units (ICU). To determine the prevalence of rectal colonization by VRE, and the risk factors associated with their presence, rectal surveillance swabs were taken from patients under treatment in two intensive-care units (one medical and another both medical and surgical) at São Paulo Hospital, over a two-year period. Thirty-three percent of the 147 patients evaluated had VRE. The only significant variable in the logistic regression was the length of stay in the ICU.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Furtado,Guilherme Henrique Campos, Martins,Sinaida Teixeira, Coutinho,Ana Paula, Wey,Sérgio Barsanti, Medeiros,Eduardo Alexandrino Servolo
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases 2005
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-86702005000100011
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Summary:Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are important pathogens causing nosocomial infections, and there is reason for concern about their resistance and great ability to spread in hospital environments, especially intensive-care units (ICU). To determine the prevalence of rectal colonization by VRE, and the risk factors associated with their presence, rectal surveillance swabs were taken from patients under treatment in two intensive-care units (one medical and another both medical and surgical) at São Paulo Hospital, over a two-year period. Thirty-three percent of the 147 patients evaluated had VRE. The only significant variable in the logistic regression was the length of stay in the ICU.