Distribution of VRE carriers among hospitalized patients

Since ICU patients and patients in oncology wards were found to be at increased risk of infection or colonization with VRE, we decided to include these patients for our inpatient survey. The results in table (4.3) show that carriers were found more frequently in the pediatric Al-Naser ICU ward (94.1%) than in the rest of the hospital wards, followed by Al-Shifa ICU carriers were 81.3%. There were no significant differences in distribution of VRE carriers in hospital wards (P = 0.067). This result is high in comparison with study in Virginia ICUs where VRE prevalence among patients in these ICUs remained at 20%–45%. This high presence of VRE in such wards could be explained by the intensive use of vancomycin.