Publication:

Linezolid resistance in vancomycin resistant enterococci: a worrisome situation

Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens since 1986. VRE have been associated with higher morbidity and mortality rates than vancomycin susceptible enterococci.Of over 50 species of Enterococcus, a genus of Gram-positive cocci arranged in pairs and short chains, E. faecalis is the most common cause of infections whereas E. faecium is the species exhibiting highest rate of antibiotic resistance. VRE have been implicated in varieties of infections such as bacteremia, infective endocarditis, intra-abdominal and pelvic infections, urinary tract infections, central nervous system infections and skin and skin structure infections.