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    Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2004 Feb;23(2):200-3.

    Emergence of resistance to chloramphenicol among vancomycin-resistant enterococcal (VRE) bloodstream isolates.

    Source

    Department of Medicine, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 825 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, USA. elautenb@cceb.med.upenn.edu

    Abstract

    Therapeutic options for vancomycin-resistant enterococcal (VRE) bloodstream infections are extremely limited. Chloramphenicol is effective when VRE isolates are susceptible to this agent. However, longitudinal trends in chloramphenicol-resistant VRE (CR-VRE) are unknown. The possible association between CR-VRE and antibiotic use has not been studied. We analyzed the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of all VRE blood isolates from 1991-2000 at our institution. We performed a correlational study to examine the relationship between annual hospital-wide use of specific antibiotics and antibiotic classes and CR-VRE prevalence. During the 10-year study period, the prevalence of CR-VRE increased from 0 to 11% ( P< 0.001, trend). CR-VRE prevalence was correlated only with chloramphenicol use (P=0.05 ) and quinolone use (P= 0.01 ). If these trends continue, dependence on newer, more expensive agents will increase. The correlation between both chloramphenicol use and quinolone use and the prevalence of CR-VRE suggests that efforts to preserve the utility of chloramphenicol in VRE infections may depend on optimizing the use of these agents.

    PMID:
    15013047
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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