A multicenter study on epidemiology of vancomycinresistant Enterococcus infection

Abstract:

ObjectiveTo investigate the epidemiological characteristics of vancomycinresistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections in intensive care units (ICUs) of general hospitals in China，and provide scientific basis for infection prevention and control. MethodsA multicentre study was conducted, 46 hospitals of 12 provinces and cities in China were studied, VRE infection in ICU patients who were hospitalized from October 2013  to September 2014 was investigated prospectively according to  unified diagnostic criteria and methods.ResultsA  total of 33 443 patients in 58 ICUs were included in study，936 infection/colonization Enterococcus strains were isolated，of which 36  (3.85%) were VRE. 26 infection cases were hospitalonset infection(HOI) caused by VRE ,the incidence was 0.78‰, and 0.09/1 000 patientdays.  Nine infection cases were VRE communityonset infection (COI) ,incidence was 0.27‰. The main type of VRE infection specimen was urine (42.86%)，the main infection site and HOI site was urinary tract (45.71%, 50.00%,respectively). Of different ICUs, respiratory ICUs had the highest VRE isolation rate (20.00%), VRE HOI rate (8.04‰) and HOI incidence per 1 000 patientdays (0.47‰); Of different regions, southwest region had the highest VRE isolation rate (9.74%),  VRE HOI rate (3.68‰) and HOI incidence per 1 000 patientdays (0.35‰).ConclusionIsolation and infection rate of VRE in China are at low levels，but there are difference among different ICUs/regions，monitoring should be intensified continuously，rational use of antimicrobial agents and prevention and control measures should be implemented according to infection characteristics.