Vancomycin-resistant enterococci – the new apocalypse

SATISH JANKIE Satish Jankie, BSc Pharm, RPh, Pharmacist, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are becoming increasingly important pathogens as they have breached the last line of defence and pose a serious health risk for patients. This article explores the background and relevance of VRE, and highlights their role in a clinical setting. Resistance patterns are discussed with reference to the relevant phenotypes, with emphasis on the regulation of expression. The connections between both antibiotic abuse in animal husbandry and poor prescribing patterns and the presence and incidence of VRE are examined, and methods of VRE detection and effective infection control measures are outlined. Read More>>>>

 

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