Failure of oral antimicrobial agents in eradicating gastrointestinal colonization with vancomycin-resistant enterococci

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2002 Jan;23(1):43-4. doi: 10.1086/501968.

Abstract

Eradication of gastrointestinal colonization with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) using a combination of oral bacitracin and gentamicin was evaluated. Twenty-eight evaluable treated patients were matched with 28 control patients. After 3 months of follow-up, 5 patients (18%) in the treatment group versus 1 patient (4%) in the control group (P = .2) had negative results on stool cultures, with a similar frequency of VRE bacteremia (P = .8). The use of oral bacitracin plus gentamicin did not reduce VRE colonization or bacteremia.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bacitracin / administration & dosage
  • Bacitracin / adverse effects
  • Bacitracin / therapeutic use*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Enterococcus faecium / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Gentamicins / administration & dosage
  • Gentamicins / adverse effects
  • Gentamicins / therapeutic use*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Treatment Failure
  • Vancomycin Resistance*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Gentamicins
  • Bacitracin