Prevalence of Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci Colonization, and Susceptibility to linezolid in Pediatric Intensive Care Units of a Referral Pediatric Center in Tehran, Iran

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) has been established as a significant health-care associated problem, and caused significant morbidity and mortality. This study was aimed to determine prevalence of VRE colonization in severely ill patients admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and identify potential risk factors for colonization, and in vitro susceptibility of VRE to linezolid.Patients and Rectal swabs were taken from 71 children 18 years old or younger who were admitted with serious systemic illness, including malignancy, chronic kidney, lung or liver diseases, treatment with chemotherapeutic agents, immunodeficiency, treatment with high-dose corticosteroids, malnutrition, previous treatment with 2nd or 3rd generation cephalosporin, aminoglycoside, and broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotics within the past 3 months. Demographics and known risk factors were retrieved and assessed by statistical methods. A total of 71 patients with a mean age of 29.1 ± 38.5 months were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of VRE rectal colonization was 66.2%. None of the potential risk factors including age, gender, comorbidities, previous admission into ICU, length of stay in ICU, presence of invasive devices were significantly associated with VRE colonization. Linezolid-susceptible isolated strains accounted 97.9%. The prevalence of VRE was higher compared to previous reports from local and international studies. In order to control the spread of VRE, appropriate use of antibiotics, adherence to infection control measures, and shortening the duration of ICU stay is highly recommended.