| Keywords |
Transmission Path ; Infection Control ; VRE ; Nosocomial Infection |
| Abstract |
The purpose of this study is to analyze the transmission path of VRE (vancomycin resistant enterococci) infection in a university hospital in Korea. The materials of this study were obtained from the results of VRE culture tests, which had been conducted in Seoul from March 15, 2000 to October 31, 2000 on the specimens isolated from the 26 patients with VRE. The infection control was systematically organized by analyzing the transmission paths of VRE and conducting infection surveillance. Actual infection occurred to 46.2% (12/26) of these patients and most of them 91.6% (11/12) were nosocomial infection. The rate of VRE's colonization in the rectum among the patients and their roommates was 40.9% (9/22) and 17.1% (12/70), respectively. 67.8% of VRE detected through the analysis of genotypes were the same clons, which meant that VRE had not colonized the whole hospital yet. These results imply that VRE infection was transmitted among the patients, their roommates and environments. Therefore, the complete isolation of patients is desirable to block nosocomial infection. |