Clinical Considerations in the Approach to Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci: A Narrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2022.1010Keywords:
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Vancomycin resistance, Healthcare-associated infection, Nosocomial infectionAbstract
Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) increasingly colonize and infect assorted patient populations throughout the world, maintaining a continual reservoir of opportunistic pathogens with varying antibiotic resistance. Here we present the current general epidemiology and classification of these pathogens within the scope of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Risk factors for colonization and conditions for subsequent infection are reviewed, along with infection characteristics. Current infection control protocols and their effectiveness, selected evidence-based medical therapies, and ongoing research into alternative therapies are summarized.
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References
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