Epidemiology of infection and colonization with vancomycin-resistant enterococci and frequency of cocolonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in children.

We report the descriptive and molecular epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection and colonization and cocolonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in children. Interunit and intraunit spread of VRE was detected, and 8 cases of VRE-MRSA cocolonization were identified. Seven of these cases were identified only via active surveillance, because clinical evidence of VRE colonization was absent.