Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium on a pediatric oncology ward: duration of stool shedding and incidence of clinical infection.

Objective: To determine the duration of stool shedding and incidence of clinical infection among pediatric oncology patients colonized with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) in our institution.

Methods: Stool cultures were obtained from all patients admitted from May 15 to August 2, 1994. Patients were followed for evidence of clinical VRE infection and surveillance stool results through August 15, 1995.