Antibiotic Resistance of Enterococci Isolated from Premature Born Infants

Enterococci are normal inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of humans. Nearly 50% of newborn infants are colonised with E.faecalis by 1 week of age. Colonisation with E.faecium is less consistent but appears to be increasing, with carriage in approximately 25% in adults. Enterococci account for up to 10% of all cases of neonatal bacterial infections. The incidence of neonatal enterococcal infections appears to be increasing, concomitant with prolonged survival of premature infants and frequent use of broad -spectrum antibiotics, especially cephalosporins, in this group of patients. E.faecalis accounts for 80% to 90% of enterococcal infection, which usually arise from the patient’s indigenous flora. Direct spread from person to person is more important for transmission of E.faecium. The most important virulence factor of enterococci is the resistance to antimicrobial drugs. There are very limited data about antibiotic resistance of enterococci in Russia. However, multiresistant enterococci, especially ampicillinand gentamicin-resistant, probably do appear to be an increasing clinical concern in some Russian medical institutions and paediatric hospitals.