Organism

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)

Emergence of VRE seen in both E. faecalis and E. faecium (most common) and at least 7 phenotypes (van A through van G).

VRE, especially E. faecium , usually demonstrates intrinsic resistance to cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and β-lactam antibiotics.

Enterococci that acquire the van A gene are highly resistant to vancomycin and to teicoplanin. The location of this gene on a plasmid means that it can be spread between strains, and therefore identification of VRE may require contact isolation in the hospital by infection control.

Enterococci can also pass the van A gene cluster to S. aureus resulting in vancomycin-resistant S. aureus .