We evaluated the influence of antimicrobial agents on the colonization of the respiratory tract as well as infection with enterococcus fecalis and enterococcus fecium in intensive care unit (ICU) intubated patients. Ceftazidime, cefuroxime, amikacin and metronidazole were the most commonly used antimicrobial agents. This study compared antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of clinically important bacterial isolates. The use of topical antibiotics and the treatment of E. fecalis increased the risk of colonization and infection with the bacteria. We performed daily clinical monitoring, in order to detect nosocomial infections, by means of microbiological investigations (when indicated), as well as twice weekly, routine microbiological surveillance sampling. Antibiotic selective pressure might contribute to bacterial colonization. Multiresistance E. fecium respiratory tract infections predict the mortality and morbidity of ICU patients. We performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing by means of standard laboratory methods. An ATB (bioMerieux) statistics program was used for the comparison of data.

Keywords: Enterococcus, respiratory infection, Intensive care unit (ICU)