Evaluation of GeneXpert vanA/vanB assay for the detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in patients newly admitted to intensive care units

Aim: The automated Cepheid GeneXpert system provides rapid PCR results and can be used for the identification of VRE. We aimed to evaluate the use of the Cepheid Xpert vanA/vanB real-time PCR assay for the detection of VRE from rectal swabs of patients newly admitted to intensive care units in a hospital setting. Materials and methods: Rectal swab samples of patients newly admitted to 6 intensive care units from March 2011 to February 2012 were obtained. The specimens were analyzed by the GeneXpert system. The results were reported for both vanA and vanB as negative or positive. Results: Comparing the number of inpatients, most of the samples were delivered from the neurosurgery (48.3%), pediatrics (33.3%), and neonatology (20.6%) intensive care units. The positive samples according to GeneXpert vanA/vanB method were 33 (7.3%) among 454 rectal samples. Of these positive samples 22 (4.9%) were vanA, 10 (2.2%) were vanB, and 1 sample (0.2%) was vanA and vanBharboring, by PCR. Conclusion: As a rapid, easy to use, and labor-saving method GeneXpert vanA/vanB can detect VRE-positive patients, particularly in risk groups, as soon as they are admitted to hospital so that infection control policies can be applied immediately.