Prevalence of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Hemodialysis Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Ojan Assadian, Mehrdad Askarian, Maria Stadler, Soheila Shaghaghian
Primary Institution: Medical University Vienna, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Hypothesis
What are the prevalence and risk factors of VRE colonization in chronic hemodialysis patients?
Conclusion
VRE colonization is associated with antibiotic consumption and hospitalization among chronic dialysis patients in Iran.
Supporting Evidence
- 9 out of 146 patients (6.2%) were positive for VRE.
- Risk factors included antibiotic use within 2 months and hospitalization in the previous year.
- All VRE strains were genotypically distinguishable.
Takeaway
Some patients on dialysis have a type of bacteria that doesn't respond to a common antibiotic, and this is linked to taking antibiotics and being in the hospital.
Methodology
Rectal swabs were taken from patients, cultured, and tested for vancomycin resistance; a questionnaire was used to identify risk factors.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of controls due to the sampling method.
Limitations
The study may underestimate the true prevalence of VRE due to the sampling technique and small number of isolates.
Participant Demographics
146 patients, median age 50 years, 79 male, with common conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.003 for antibiotic consumption, 0.016 for hospitalization
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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