Environmental survival of vancomycin-sensitive ampicillin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (AREfm)

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2015 Sep;34(9):1901-3. doi: 10.1007/s10096-015-2430-x. Epub 2015 Jul 21.

Abstract

Ampicillin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (AREfm) has gained increased footholds in many hospital intensive care units (ICUs) and belongs to specific hospital-adapted E. faecium sub-populations. Three AREfm strains survived in an in vitro survival setting for approximately 5.5 years. These findings have important consequences for the epidemiology of AREfm in hospital settings and stress the importance of maintaining a good level of hospital hygiene.

MeSH terms

  • Ampicillin / pharmacology*
  • Ampicillin Resistance
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  • Enterococcus faecium / drug effects*
  • Enterococcus faecium / growth & development
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / transmission
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Vancomycin / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Vancomycin
  • Ampicillin