vancomycin-resistant enterococcus


vancomycin-resistant enterococcus

Infectious disease An enterococcus, primarily Enterococcus faecium, resistant to most antibiotics, including aminoglycosides and vancomycin, once a 'last-resort' agent; VRE is primarily nosocomial, in long hospitalizations–especially in the ICU, enteral feeding, liver transplants, antibiotic-associated colitis; it may be community acquired Management Ampicillin, penicillin G, teicoplanin–not US, quinupristin/dalfopristin or linuzolid, both investigational. See Vancomycin. Cf Methicillin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus.

van·co·my·cin-re·sis·tant en·ter·o·coc·cus

(VRE) (van'kō-mī'sin-rĕ-zis'tănt en'tĕr-ō-kok'ŭs) A strain of enterococcial bacteria that resists therapy with vancomycin.