Author/Editor		Ribič, Helena; Ravnik, Mateja; Ahec, Lidija; Kramar, Zdenka; Dermota, Urška
Title		Obvladovanje okužb s proti vankomicinu odpornimi enterokoki v Splošni bolnišnici Jesenice
Translated title		Contaunment of vancomycin resistent enterococci in Jesenice general hospital
Type		članek
Source		Med Razgl
Vol. and No.		Letnik 46, št. Suppl 2
Publication year		2007
Volume		str. 175-81
Language		slo
Abstract		Background. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are an increasing problem in Slovene hospitals. This article presents the first known cluster of VRE cases at Jesenice General Hospital, which was documented in May and June 2007, along with the microbiological characteristics of isolated strains and problems preventing the spread of this bacterium. Methods. This study describes the results of microbiological testing of patient and personel samples from Jesenice General Hospital that were tested for VRE during the period between 1st May and 15th June. The antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated strains was determined using standard disk-diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration with E-tests. Identification and resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin were confirmed using the molecular method. Results. During this period, 364 samples from 92 patients and 18 hand swabs of hospital personal were examined. VRE was isolated in 10 patients; the results of samples from the hospital were all negative. In all 10 patients, E. faecium vanA with the same type of resistance pattern was isolated. All of the strains were resistant to vancomycin (minimal inhibitory concentration >_ 256 microg/ml, high level of resistance), teicoplanin, ampicillin, gentamycin, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin and erythromycin and susceptible to linezolid, tetracyclines and chloramphenicol. A review of measures initiated to prevent the spread of this bacterium was performed and the established errorsare presented in this article. Conclusions. The containment of VRE spread in hospitals requires huge efforts. For timely initiation of measures, promt interreporting of each case among individual health care services as well as within a single institution or hospital is obligatory. At the national level, a network of experts should be established. Within such a network, prompt information should be disseminated about actual problems related to hospital infections.
Descriptors		ENTEROCOCCUS MICROBIAL SENSITIVITY TESTS DRUG RESISTANCE, MICROBIAL CROSS INFECTION VANCOMYCIN HOSPITALS, GENERAL