{Reference Type}: Journal Article {Title}: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium: admission prevalence, sequence types and risk factors-a cross-sectional study in seven German university hospitals from 2014 to 2018. {Author}: Rohde AM;Walker S;Behnke M;Eisenbeis S;Falgenhauer L;Falgenhauer JC;Häcker G;Hölzl F;Imirzalioglu C;Käding N;Kern WV;Kola A;Kramme E;Mischnik A;Peter S;Rieg S;Rupp J;Schneider C;Schwab F;Seifert H;Tacconelli E;Tobys D;Trauth J;Weber A;Xanthopoulou K;Zweigner J;Higgins PG;Gastmeier P; ; {Journal}: Clin Microbiol Infect {Volume}: 29 {Issue}: 4 {Year}: Apr 2023 {Factor}: 13.31 {DOI}: 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.11.025 {Abstract}: OBJECTIVE: Assessment of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) prevalence upon hospital admission and analysis of risk factors for colonization.
METHODS: From 2014 to 2018, patients were recruited within 72 hours of admission to seven participating German university hospitals, screened for VREfm and questioned for potential risk factors (prior multidrug-resistant organism detection, current/prior antibiotic consumption, prior hospital, rehabilitation or long-term care facility stay, international travel, animal contact and proton pump inhibitor [PPI]/antacid therapy). Genotype analysis was done using cgMLST typing. Multivariable analysis was performed.
RESULTS: In 5 years, 265 of 17,349 included patients were colonized with VREfm (a prevalence of 1.5%). Risk factors for VREfm colonization were age (adjusted OR [aOR], 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), previous (aOR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.87-3.92) or current (aOR, 2.91; 95% CI, 2.60-3.24) antibiotic treatment, prior multidrug-resistant organism detection (aOR, 2.83; 95% CI, 2.21-3.63), prior stay in a long-term care facility (aOR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.62-2.97), prior stay in a hospital (aOR, 2.91; 95% CI, 2.05-4.13) and prior consumption of PPI/antacids (aOR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.18-1.41). Overall, the VREfm admission prevalence increased by 33% each year and 2% each year of life. 250 of 265 isolates were genotyped and 141 (53.2%) of the VREfm were the emerging ST117. Multivariable analysis showed that ST117 and non-ST117 VREfm colonized patients differed with respect to admission year and prior multidrug-resistant organism detection.
CONCLUSIONS: Age, healthcare contacts and antibiotic and PPI/antacid consumption increase the individual risk of VREfm colonization. The VREfm admission prevalence increase in Germany is mainly driven by the emergence of ST117.