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The Use of Molecular Typing Techniques in the Epidemiologic Investigation of Resistant Enterococci

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Barbara M. Willey ,
Allison J. McGeer ,
Mario A. Ostrowski ,
Barry N. Kreiswirth  and
Donald E. Low
Barbara M. Willey
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai and Princess Margaret Hospitals, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Allison J. McGeer
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai and Princess Margaret Hospitals, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Mario A. Ostrowski
Affiliation:
Toronto Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Barry N. Kreiswirth
Affiliation:
New York Public Health Research Institute, New York, New York
Donald E. Low*
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai and Princess Margaret Hospitals, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
*
Department of Microbiology, Room 1487, Mount Sinai and Princess Margaret Hospitals, 600 University Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X5
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Extract

The Enterococcus has become an important nosocomial pathogen despite its low virulence. From 1986 to 1989, the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (NNIS) reported enterococci to be the third most common pathogen associated with bloodstream infections and the second most commonly isolated pathogen overall. This is due in part to the organism's ubiquitous nature and inherent antimicrobial resistance.

Enterococcus faecalis is found in the stool of virtually all adults at concentrations in excess of 106 colony-forming units/g. Enterococcus faecium, the second most common species causing human infection, is found at lesser concentrations in the stool of approximately 25% of healthy adults. Enterococci also can be isolated from the mouth, anterior urethra, groin, and vagina.

Type
Molecular Hospital Epidemiology
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 15 , Issue 8 , August 1994 , pp. 548 - 556
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1994

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