A comprehensive study was conducted at Hannover Medical School in Germany to understand the prevalence and control of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE), a recognized healthcare-associated risk. The study was retrospective, dealing with all VRE patients from 2015 to 2017. The rise of VRE in hospitals is a crucial concern not just in Germany, but globally, posing a substantial challenge to infection prevention professionals.
During 2015-2017, VRE cases witnessed a considerable increase, raising concerns over the control of this epidemic in hospitals. Considering the broader scope, a detailed analysis of 1492 VRE cases corresponding to 822 individual patients was analyzed. Notably, 35.9% of the cases were acquired nosocomically. Independent risk factors for nosocomial VRE infection and colonization were evaluated using logistic regression modelling.
The rise of VRE in Germany was marked by a paradigm shift from vanA-type resistance to vanB-type resistance. Interestingly, a particular lineage – Enterococcus (E.) faecium ST117/CT71 – has been dominant in the German healthcare sector. With an increase in VRE infections, there has been a significant impact on clinical outcomes.
The problem, however, is not confined to German borders. On a global scale, the surge in vancomycin-resistant E. faecium has led to the inclusion of this species in the World Health Organization’s priority list for the development of new antibiotics for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It is important to understand the epidemiology of VRE by taking into account not just the disease progression, but also the specific demographic data of the patients and the immediate hospital environment.
This comprehensive study offers critical insights to infection prevention professionals; it underscores the requirement for well-targeted strategies to prevent nosocomial VRE acquisition, specifically within medical specialties prone to higher infection rates such as hematology and oncology, as well as visceral surgery. The logistics of infection control for VRE significantly differ across German hospitals. The focus should be upon highly affected patient groups/ specialties to optimize the infection control efforts.
By delving deep into specific aspects, this article aims to support infection prevention professionals in strategizing countermeasures to control the rise of VRE cases. Considering the wide readership within the field, the study emphasizes the importance of hands-on experiences and proven outcomes, shaping up the hospital management landscape with valuable insights.
Source: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article%3Fid%3D10.1371/journal.pone.0297866