J Korean Soc Plast Reconstr Surg.  2000 Sep;27(5):562-564.

Appearance of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci(VRE) on Sore Wound: A case report

• Jang H
• Yoo SK
• Cho JW
• Yoo YC

Abstract

Enterococcus is a gram positive coccus and a normal flora in gastrointestinal tract, but it could raise opportunistic infection. In 1986, vancomycin resistant enterococcus(VRE) was reported in Europe at first. Recently, the incidence is increasing in USA and Korea(2~8%). In our hospital, sore and stool cultures for enterococcal identification were carried out on 4 patients with sore wound. By screening stool culture, VRE was detected in 3 of 4 pressure sore patients. VRE was also identified from the sore wound in 2 of 3 patients who had VRE positive in screening stool culture. 2 of 4, enterococcal positive patients, have the history of vancomycin use in the past. An increasing number of VRE infection in hospital suggest that VRE become an important cause of infected pressure sore. Therefore, culture of sore wound and stool for the identification of VRE should be performed routinely.

Keyword

VRE(vancomycin-resistant enterococcus); Pressure Sore

MeSH Terms

Enterococcus
Europe
Gastrointestinal Tract
Humans
Incidence
Mass Screening
Opportunistic Infections
Pressure Ulcer
Vancomycin
Wounds and Injuries*
Vancomycin