Abstract:

Vancomycin Resistance Enterococci (VRE) infection and/or colonization is a serious problem in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. For this reason, in our study, we aimed to determine the potential underlying risk factors of VRE infection and/or colonization in ICU patients. METHODS: The medical files of the patients that were hospitalized at least 48 hours in intensive care units between January 2012 – July 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients’ data on demographic values (age, sex, previous hospitalization, operation history), coexisting diseases (diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, malignancy, Alzheimer Disease) prior antibiotic use,the results of rectal swab culture and patient prognosis was collected from the hospital data. Patients were evaluated according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). First group was colonisation/ infection group that included the VRE infected and colonized patients according to rectal swab culture results in hospital. The second group was non-infected group that included negative culture results in terms of VRE infection. The risk factors for VRE infection were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of VRE colonization was %10.7 (53 patients of 496). In VRE colonized patients; prolonged hospitalization, malignancy, hemodialysis, Alzheimer Disease and antibiotic usage were assessed as risk factors. CONCLUSION: For preventing the spread of VRE, we should take precaution considering the detected risk factors. Especially, the colonized patients should be isolated, hygiene rules must be exactly performed and the patients should be externed from ICUs as earlier as possible.

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