Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci infections are among the most common healthcare-associated infections and often lead to poor clinical outcomes, according to a study in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Researchers examined the clinical outcomes of 7,703 patients, 7.2 percent of which had VRE, in an intensive care unit between January 2008 and December 2010.
Here are three findings associated with VRE, according to this study.
1. Patients with colonized VRE had a 24.6 percent mortality rate, compared to 17.1 percent for patients without VRE.
2. VRE colonized patients had longer lengths of stays (28.7 days) than patients without VRE (21.4 days).
3. ICU cost was also higher for VRE patients, at an average of $6,065, compared to $5,298 for non-VRE patients.
Researchers conclude VRE colonization is associated with poorer clinical outcomes, including increased mortality, length of stay and healthcare cost.
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