L.Triveda 

Department of Microbiology, SRM Medical college Hospital and Research Institute, Kattankulathur

V.Mangayarkarasi

Department of Microbiology, SRM Medical college Hospital and Research Institute, Kattankulathur

Abstract

Vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) have recently emerged as nosocomial pathogen with intrinsic resistance to many antimicrobial agents making them difficult to treat. We investigated the prevalence of vancomycin resistance in Enterococci isolated in a tertiary health care set up.

Materials and Methods:

128 Enterococcal isolates form patients specimens were screened for vancomycin resistance. Screening for vancomycin resistance  was done by utilizing vancomycin screen agar. Vancomycin resistance was also confirmed phenoypically by determining the Minimum inhibitory concentration of both Vancomycin and teicoplanin  by broth microdilution method.

Results:

Vancomycin screen agar detected four resistant isolates of Enterococcus faecium (12.90%) which is inclusive of  an additional isolate which Kibybaeur disk difusion method failed to identify .

Interpretation and conclusion:

Being an emerging pathogen, VRE acts as a sensitive marker for measuring the effectiveness of

Infection control programme and the appropriate application of preventive measures. The study resulted in an increased awareness about VRE and implementation of control measures in the hospital to restrict spread of VRE

Keywords

Vancomycin screen Agar, Vancomycin, Teicoplanin, Drug resistance, MIC

How to cite this article

VM L.Triveda*Microbioz Journals, Journal of Microbiology and Biomedical Research 4 (2)

Article Details

Type of article

Original Artilcle

Date of publication

28/05/2018

Mode of access

Open Access

Correspondance 

L.Triveda

Department of Microbiology, SRM Medical college Hospital and Research Institute, Kattankulathur

Email ID:  drtriveda@gmail.com