Surveillance of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci in A Stem Cell Transplantation Unit

Abstract

During one year period between February 2003 and April 2004, rectal surveillance for vancomycin resistant enterococci is performed in 52 patients hospitalized in stem cell transplantation unit of Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Haematology Department. Rectal swab cultures sent to clinical microbiology laboratory on 1st, 4th and 7th days of hospitalization and each week during their stay. Rectal swabs were cultured using antibiotic containing enterococcosel agar and inspected for 72 hours. 82.7% of the patients had a history of antibiotic use with cephalosporins in 63.5% (mean duration 5.9 days) and glycopeptides in 55.8% (mean duration 8.2 days). The mean duration time for hospitalization was 33.7 days. None of the cultures revealed vancomycin resistant enterococci. Routine surveillance of vancomycin resistant enterococci is not found to be necessary in the stem cell transplantation unit of our hospital.

Keywords

• Enterococcus
• Vancomycin resistance
• Surveillance
• Risk factors