Association between resistance to vancomycin and death in cases of Enterococcus faecium bacteremia

Clin Infect Dis. 2000 Mar;30(3):466-72. doi: 10.1086/313694.

Abstract

We conducted a retrospective cohort study to determine the association between resistance to vancomycin and mortality among hospitalized patients with Enterococcus faecium bacteremia. We compared outcomes for patients infected with vancomycin-resistant versus vancomycin-susceptible E. faecium among 69 patients with bacteremia defined according to the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance system. The univariate odds ratio (OR) for death associated with vancomycin resistance was 2.1 (P=.172). After controlling for severity of illness, we found that vancomycin resistance was not associated with mortality (OR, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-6.12; P=.39). Vancomycin resistance does not independently increase mortality among patients with E. faecium bacteremia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacteremia / microbiology*
  • Bacteremia / mortality*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Enterococcus faecium / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / mortality*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Vancomycin / pharmacology
  • Vancomycin Resistance*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Vancomycin