NEW CHROMagar VRE agar - Enables the Isolation and Direct Differentiation of (VRE) Strains of E.faecalis and E.faecium from other species
13 January 2009
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections are now the second-leading cause of nosocomial infections in the United States and their prevalence is increasing worldwide. VRE infections have a high mortality rate (60-70%) and resistance to Vancomycin can be transmitted between bacteria. Cross-resistance is mediated by plasmids and transposons, which transfer the genes associated with resistance to other much more aggressive pathogens, such as Staphylococci and Streptococci. Three principal types of vancomycin resistance are found in Enterococci; VanA, VanB and VanC.
VanA and VanB type are transmissible resistance and account for most significant infections in clinical settings, involving E.faecium and E.faecalis. VanC resistance is a low-level intrinsic resistance found in other species of Enterococcus.
The provision of a simple, fast and reliable test for the direct detection of VRE strains with transmissible resistance is an enoromous aid to the implementation of the appropriate control measures for prevention of the spread of VRE.
In the new CHROMagarTM VRE media, transmissible vancomycin resistant Enterococcus strains of E.faecalis and E.faecium are easily distinguishable by their rose / mauve colony colour. Colonies of other bacteria or E.gallinarium and E.casseliflavus are either blue or inhibited.
