Vancomycin-resistant enterococci: A rising challenge to global health

Abstract

Introduction: Improper antibiotic use triggers outbreaks of hospital-acquired VRE infections. Relevant studies were gathered from Scopus, and PubMed. Over two decades, prevalence of VRE in humans and animals grew from 0.05 % to 99.0 % globally and from 1.0 % to 45.6 % in India. Identifying VRE at the species level helps identify acquired/intrinsic resistance. Results and conclusion: VRE infections, especially bloodstream infections, inflict significant mortality (60-70%-global; 23%-India) and economic burden ($539 million). Linezolid and daptomycin are frequently used without adequate clinical trial evidence. India lacks studies on prevalence, mortality and cost, which needs political will, public-private partnership, and prioritizing public health.

Keywords

• Vancomycin-resistant enterococci
• Prevalence
• Genotypes
• Bloodstream infections
• Mortality
• Cost