Epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium under a selective isolation policy at an urban county hospital.

Background: We report our experience in a county hospital with the use of selective contact isolation for patients with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF). About 12% of patients with VREF are isolated for reasons such as draining wounds and uncontrolled diarrhea.

Methods: Passive surveillance identified all inpatients (181) from 1995 to 1999 with cultures positive for VREF.