First Detection of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus faecium in Latvia

Enterococci have become one of the most important nosocomial pathogens in advanced treatment facilities. Though they are not considered as very pathogenic bacteria, their high levels of antimicrobial resistance are the subject of major concern. Particularly epidemiologically important are vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) due to high risk of transmission of vancomycin resistance genes to staphylococci. We describe the first outbreak of VRE in a Latvian multidisciplinary hospital.