Korean J Clin Microbiol.  2008 Oct;11(2):71-77. 10.5145/KJCM.2008.11.2.71.

Resistance Mechanism and Epidemiology of Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci

• Lee WG

• KMID: 1480972
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5145/KJCM.2008.11.2.71

Abstract

Since vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were first isolated in Europe, rates of VRE colonization and infection have risen steadily. Today VRE have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens worldwide; hence, it is crucial to understand the underlying mechanism in the spreading of VRE. This article reviews the mechanism of resistance to vancomycin and global epidemiology of VRE, as well as the current molecular techniques that are being applied to the epidemiological studies of VRE.

Keyword

Enterococci; Vancomycin; Epidemiology; Molecular techniques

MeSH Terms

Colon
Epidemiologic Studies
Europe
Vancomycin
Vancomycin