Clinical enterococcal resistance to linezolid is defined by the presence of the G2576T mutation. We evaluated the incidence of genetically proven linezolid resistance among vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains and linezolid consumption for a possible association. A relationship was found (r(2) = 0.73, P = 0.03) and predicts increasing resistance with current trends of linezolid use.

In their recent paper, Kobayashi et al. evaluated the emergence of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) by genomic analysis (1). Based on whole-genome sequencing data for all U.S. VRSA strains isolated to date (2), they proposed that the development of resistance to vancomycin is an independent event in VRSA strains. It was our pleasure to read their article. We found that our resu...

PURPOSE A pre-post analysis of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) involving the use of data-mining software to prospectively identify cases for ASP intervention was conducted. METHODS The investigators evaluated clinical outcomes and cost metrics before and after implementation of the ASP, which entailed daily physician review of summary reports on all adult inpatients receiving antim...

Background The dramatic upsurge in the incidence of VRE worldwide had contributed serious concerns in early and specific diagnosis, infection control measures and treatment. There exists a paucity of information regarding VRE genotypes and their virulence genes contributing to disease severity in India. This study determines the prevalence of VRE and the role of four virulence genes in their cl...

Pathogenic enterococci are becoming resistant to currently available antibiotics, including vancomycin, the drug of last resort for Gram-positive infections. Enterococci pose a significant public health threat, not least because of the risk of transferring vancomycin resistance to the ubiquitous Staphylococcus aureus. Vancomycin resistance is manifested by cell wall peptidoglycan precursors wit...

Crude extracts of two actinomycetes ACT24 and ACT25 were analysed for antibacterial activities against wide range of bacterial strains. The extracts showed antibacterial activities against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive test bacteria with zone of inhibition ranging between 2 and 15mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts against the test bacteria ranged from 1.2mg/ml – 4.2...

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium and E. durans isolates with the genotype vanA were detected in 7 of 118 faecal samples (5.9%) of natural gilthead seabream recovered off the coast of Portugal, and one vancomycin-resistant isolate/sample was further characterized. The genes erm(B), tet(L), tet(M), aac(6')-aph(2"), aph(3')-IIIa and/or ant(6)-Ia were identified in most of the...

We surveyed infection prevention programs in 16 hospitals for hospital-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci, extended-spectrum β-lactamase, and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter acquisition, as well as hospital-associated MRSA bacteremia and Clostridium difficile infection based on defining events as occurring >2 days versus >3 days aft...

Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), an important multidrug-resistant organism of public health concern, has been infrequently identified in the United States since 2002. All previous VRSA isolates belonged to clonal complex 5, a lineage associated primarily with health care. This report describes the most recent (13th) U.S. VRSA isolate, the first to be community associated.