Background: Enterococci , normal commensal organisms in humans, have emerged as significant pathogens due to their increasing resistance to antibiotics, particularly vancomycin. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) bacteremia in a tertiary care setting. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, over one year (October 2022–September 2023). Paired blood culture samples were collected and processed using the BD BACTEC system, followed by species identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing via the VITEK 2 Compact system. Ethical approval was obtained, and data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: In total, 10,449 blood samples were received, 1,378 (13.18%) showed positive bacterial growth, with Enterococcus spp. constituting 126 isolates (9.14%). VRE was identified in 10 isolates (7.93%), predominantly from intensive care units. Enterococcus faecium was the most common species (85.71%). The VRE isolates exhibited high resistance to benzylpenicillin, levofloxacin, and teicoplanin. All isolates were VanA gene positive. Conclusion: The study identified a significant prevalence of VRE in bloodstream infections, with Enterococcus faecium being more prevalent than Enterococcus faecalis . The findings underscore the importance of targeted antibiotic stewardship and infection control measures to mitigate the spread of VRE in healthcare settings.
Kaur et al. (Thu,) studied this question.