Glycopeptide Resistance in Gram-Positive Cocci: A Review

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens in the past two decades all over the world and have seriously limited the choices available to clinicians for treating infections caused by these agents. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, perhaps the mos...

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Main Authors: S. Sujatha, Ira Praharaj
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/781679
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author S. Sujatha
Ira Praharaj
author_facet S. Sujatha
Ira Praharaj
author_sort S. Sujatha
collection DOAJ
description Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens in the past two decades all over the world and have seriously limited the choices available to clinicians for treating infections caused by these agents. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, perhaps the most notorious among the nosocomial pathogens, was till recently susceptible to vancomycin and the other glycopeptides. Emergence of vancomycin nonsusceptible strains of S. aureus has led to a worrisome scenario where the options available for treating serious infections due to these organisms are very limited and not well evaluated. Vancomycin resistance in clinically significant isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci is also on the rise in many setups. This paper aims to highlight the genetic basis of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus species and S. aureus. It also focuses on important considerations in detection of vancomycin resistance in these gram-positive bacteria. The problem of glycopeptide resistance in clinical isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci and the phenomenon of vancomycin tolerance seen in some strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae has also been discussed. Finally, therapeutic options available and being developed against these pathogens have also found a mention.
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spelling doaj-art-4e60dc38e5da4882bbc08e164263f1ca2025-08-20T02:38:48ZengWileyInterdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases1687-708X1687-70982012-01-01201210.1155/2012/781679781679Glycopeptide Resistance in Gram-Positive Cocci: A ReviewS. Sujatha0Ira Praharaj1Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry 605006, IndiaDepartment of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry 605006, IndiaVancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens in the past two decades all over the world and have seriously limited the choices available to clinicians for treating infections caused by these agents. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, perhaps the most notorious among the nosocomial pathogens, was till recently susceptible to vancomycin and the other glycopeptides. Emergence of vancomycin nonsusceptible strains of S. aureus has led to a worrisome scenario where the options available for treating serious infections due to these organisms are very limited and not well evaluated. Vancomycin resistance in clinically significant isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci is also on the rise in many setups. This paper aims to highlight the genetic basis of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus species and S. aureus. It also focuses on important considerations in detection of vancomycin resistance in these gram-positive bacteria. The problem of glycopeptide resistance in clinical isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci and the phenomenon of vancomycin tolerance seen in some strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae has also been discussed. Finally, therapeutic options available and being developed against these pathogens have also found a mention.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/781679
spellingShingle S. Sujatha
Ira Praharaj
Glycopeptide Resistance in Gram-Positive Cocci: A Review
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases
title Glycopeptide Resistance in Gram-Positive Cocci: A Review
title_full Glycopeptide Resistance in Gram-Positive Cocci: A Review
title_fullStr Glycopeptide Resistance in Gram-Positive Cocci: A Review
title_full_unstemmed Glycopeptide Resistance in Gram-Positive Cocci: A Review
title_short Glycopeptide Resistance in Gram-Positive Cocci: A Review
title_sort glycopeptide resistance in gram positive cocci a review
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/781679
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