Epidemiological features of infections/colonization, caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci in Saint-Petersburg hospitals in 2017–2020

Abstract

Relevance. Enterococcus are ubiquitous, and can cause various infections, up to endocarditis. Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) infections are difficult and expensive to treat. According to the AMRmap (Online Platform for Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance Data in Russia) data for 2017–2020, VRE cases were reported in all federal districts of the Russian Federation, with one of the highest VRE rates in St. Petersburg (4.27%, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.1–8.6)). But further, larger studies in each region are required. Aims. The study is to identify the epidemiological features of infections/colonization caused by VRE in Saint-Petersburg hospitals in 2017–2020. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the prevalence of VRE isolated from hospital patients (51 hospitals of various profiles) in St. Petersburg for the period from 2017 to 2020 was performed. Results. During the study period, VRE rate was 5.3% (95% CI 5.1–5.6). The highest proportion (11.6%, 95% CI 10.4–13)) and incidence (0.6 per 1000 patients) of VRE was observed in children hospitals, the lowest – in maternity homes 0.5% (95% CI 0.3– 0.7). Throughout the analysis period VRE were detected in clinical specimens of patients from most of the departments. In adult hospitals, the proportion of VREs was significantly higher in oncohematology 14.6% (95% CI 9.6–21.7), neurology 10.8% (95% CI 7.4–15.6), and intensive care units 10.1% (95% CI 9.4–11.0). In 2020, there was a dramatic increase in VREs in neurology, cardiology, and infection departments in adult hospitals. Neonatology and intensive care units in children hospitals had the highest proportion of VRE, 40.7% (95% CI 34–48.3) and 29.8% (95% CI 21.04–40.3), respectively. In departments of other profiles, this rate varied from year to year, which may be related with clusters in hospitals and departments. Sporadic cases were detected in both neonatal and obstetric departments of maternity homes. The most common clinical specimen with isolated VRE was urine; this was characteristic of departments of almost all profiles and for children intensive care patients also VRE was isolated in gastric fluid and feces often. Conclusions. The proportion of VRE isolated from clinical specimens from patients in St. Petersburg hospitals is at an average level compared to other regions of the Russian Federation and other countries. The highest prevalence of VRE was noted in pediatric hospitals. Risk groups are patients of neonatology and intensive care departments in children's hospitals and oncohematology, neurology and intensive care departments in adult hospitals. VRE are most commonly found in the urine of patients. Screening for VRE among patients in at-risk units and contact precautions should be taken to VRE-infected/colonized patients.