View source for Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus

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[[Image:Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus 01.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Scanning electron microscope|SEM]] [[micrograph]] of  vancomycin-resistant enterococci.]]
'''Vancomycin-resistant''' '''''enterococcus''''' (VRE) is the name given to a group of [[Bacterium|bacterial]] species of the genus ''[[Enterococcus]]'' that is [[Antibiotic resistance|resistant]] to the [[antibiotic]] [[vancomycin]]. Enterococci are [[enteric]] and can be found in the [[digestive tract|digestive]] and [[urinary tract]]s of some [[human]]s. VRE was discovered in 1985<ref>{{cite journal | author=Dixson S, Brumfitt W, Hamilton-Miller JM | title=In vitro activity of six antibiotics against multiresistant staphylococci and other gram-positive cocci | journal=Eur J Clin Microbiol | year=1985 | pages=19-23 | volume=4 | issue=1 | id={{PMID|3157567}} }}</ref> and are particularly dangerous to [[Immunodeficiency|immunocompromised]] individuals. VRE spp. have an enhanced ability to pass resistant [[gene]]s to other bacteria. While infection of healthy individuals is uncommon, it is possible that they could be colonized with newly-resistant bacteria.

There are six different types of vancomycin resistance shown by enterococci: Van-A, Van-B, Van-C, Van-D, Van-E and Van-F. Of these, only Van-A, Van-B and Van-C have been seen in general clinical practice so far. The significance is that Van-A VRE is resistant to both vancomycin and [[teicoplanin]], Van-B VRE is resistant to vancomycin but sensitive to teicoplanin, and Van-C is only partly resistant to vancomycin, and sensitive to teicoplanin.

VRE can be carried by healthy people who have come into contact with the bacteria. The most likely place where such contact can occur is in a hospital ([[nosocomial]] infections), although it is thought that a significant percentage of [[industrial agriculture (animals)|intensively-farmed chicken]] also carries VRE.<ref>{{cite journal | author=Harwood VJ, Brownell M, Perusek W, Whitlock JE | title=Vancomycin-resistant ''Enterococcus spp.'' isolated from wastewater and chicken feces in the United States | journal=Appl Environ Microbiol | year=2001 | pages=4930-3 | volume=67 | issue=10 | id={{PMID|11571206}} }}</ref><sup>,</sup><ref>{{cite journal | author=Cox LA Jr, Popken DA | title=Quantifying human health risks from virginiamycin used in chickens | journal=Risk Anal | year=2004 | pages=271-88 | volume=24 | issue=1 | id={{PMID|15028017}} }}</ref>

In 2005, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), a strain of [[Lactobacillus_rhamnosus|L. rhamnosus]], was used successfully for the first time to treat gastrointestinal carriage of VRE in renal patients.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Manley KJ, Fraenkel MB, Mayall BC, Power DA |title=Probiotic treatment of vancomycin-resistant enterococci: a randomised controlled trial |journal=Med J Aust. | year=2007 | pages=454-7 | volume=186 |issue=9  | id={{PMID|17484706}} }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus|Methicillin-resistant ''Staphylococcus aureus'']] (MRSA)
*[[MDR-TB]]
*[[XDR-TB]]
*[[Drug resistance]]
*[[Antibiotic resistance]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_lab_vre.html Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) and the Clinical Laboratory]

[[Category:Lactobacillales]]

[[ja:バンコマイシン耐性腸球菌]]
[[zh:抗萬古黴素腸球菌]]

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