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Vancomycin-Resistance Enterococci (VRE)
Enterococci
are bacteria that are commonly found in the digestive tract and female
genital tract, but do not pose a threat to healthy people. Infectious occur
more commonly in people that are in hospital or healthcare facilities and
may be more susceptible to infection. They have public health importance
because of their ability to share their resistance with other organisms.
Many VRE are resistant to all presently available antibiotics. Though VRE
is neither more infectious nor more virulent than susceptible enterococci,
it poses a greater challenge because treatment options are limited to
combinations of antimicrobials or experimental compounds with unproven
efficacy. Individuals infected with VRE have a higher chance of dying than
individuals infected with enterococci that are susceptible to
vancomycin.
VRE were initially reported
in 1986 in Europe. In the last two decades enterococci have become
recognized as a leading cause of healthcare-associated bacteremia, surgical
wound infection, and urinary tract infection. Prior to 1990, VRE made up <1%
of all enterococcal infections reported in intensive care units in the U.S.;
by 1993 VRE accounted for 13.6% and by 2003, VRE infections had more than
doubled to 28.5%. Data reported to the CDC during 2004 showed that VRE
caused about one of every three infections in hospital intensive care units.
VRE
Overview from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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