VANCOMYCIN RESISTANT ENETROCOCCI- A STUDY ON PREVALENCEOF VANCOMYCIN RESISTANCE ENTEROCCI IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SOUTH KERALA

Abstract

Introduction: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), are bacterial strains of the genus Enterococcus that are resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin. They have been associated with outbreaks of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections around the world. VRE can remain viable in the environment for an extended time period posing a problem for infection control in hospitals and nursing homes. They also pose a major therapeutic challenge as they possess intrinsic resistance to most of the commonly used antibiotics and can acquire resistance to most of the current available antibiotics. Assessment of the prevalence and changing trends of VRE infections is required to help plan infection control measures, which should be implemented in the hospital and also in the community to reduce the mortality and morbidity caused by these VRE infections. Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Vancomycin resistance among Enterococcus species isolates obtained from clinical samples in a tertiary care hospital in southern India and also to detect resistant genes by molecular methods. A descriptive cross- Methods: sectional study was done on 150 non-duplicate isolates of Enterococcus species from different samples received at the Microbiology laboratory of Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Foundation included consecutively from January 2021 to December 2021. Identication was based on Gram staining, colony morphologies, and biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar. Vancomycin resistance was determined by Vancomycin screen agar and vancomycin E -test method. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for preparing and analysis of data. Out of the Results: 150 Enterococcus species, 2% (3) isolates were resistant to Vancomycin by Vancomycin screen agar & Vancomycin MIC test in which 2 were E. faecium and 1was E. faecalis. Out of 3 VRE, all were sensitive to Teicoplanin, so they were likely of vanB phenotype. Vancomycin resistant Enteroc Conclusion: occus species have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens in our institution with resistance of 2% per cent in our study. Increasing trend in the VRE rates, as seen in India and worldwide, need to be monitored and checked with active surveillance.