Table 1.
Demographic and clinical data of the study population (patients < 18 years)
| Missing n (%) |
All patients (n = 33) |
VREfm-colonised patients (n = 26) |
VREfm-colonised patients with suspected infection (n = 7) |
p value* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | ||||
| Male | 20 (60.6) | 17 (65.4) | 3 (42.9) | 0.393 | |
| Female | 13 (39.4) | 9 (34.6) | 4 (57.1) | ||
| Age (in months) | 0 (0.0) | ||||
| Median (range) | 6 (0–198) | 5.5 (0–198) | 13 (1–184) | 0.143 | |
| Prematurity, n (%) | 4 (12.1) | ||||
| Preterm born | 16 (48.5) | 14 (53.8) | 2 (28.6) | 0.632 | |
| Mature born | 13 (39.4) | 10 (38.5) | 3 (42.9) | ||
| Gestational age (in completed weeks of gestation) | 4 (12.1) | ||||
| Median (range) | 34 (23–41) | 33.5 (23–41) | 34 (24–40) | 0.885 | |
| Gestational weight (in grams) | 8 (24.2) | ||||
|
Median (range) |
2150 (465–4430) |
2150 (465–4430) |
1665 (730–2600) |
0.96 | |
| Twin, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | ||||
| Yes | 4 (12.1) | 4 (15.4) | 0 (0.0) | 0.555 | |
| Invasive devices†, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | ||||
| NG/NJ tube | 16 (48.5) | 13 (50.0) | 3 (42.9) | 1.000 | |
| PEG/PEJ tube | 7 (21.2) | 6 (23.1) | 1 (14.3) | 1.000 | |
| Peripheral venous catheter | 21 (63.6) | 15 (57.7) | 6 (85.7) | 0.223 | |
| Central venous catheter | 17 (51.5) | 13 (50.0) | 4 (57.1) | 1.000 | |
| Arterial line | 9 (27.3) | 6 (23.1) | 3 (42.9) | 0.358 | |
| Port | 1 (3.0) | 1 (3.8) | 0 (0.0) | 1.000 | |
| Hickman catheter | 5 (15.2) | 2 (7.7) | 3 (42.9) | 0.052 | |
| Urinary catheter | 10 (30.3) | 6 (23.1) | 4 (57.1) | 0.161 | |
| Ventricular drain | 3 (9.1) | 3 (11.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1.000 | |
| Tracheostomy tube | 2 (6.1) | 2 (7.7) | 0 (0.0) | 1.000 | |
| Chest drain | 2 (6.1) | 2 (7.7) | 0 (0.0) | 1.000 | |
| Artificial stoma | 3 (9.1) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (42.9) | 0.006 | |
| Surgical procedures†, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | 18 (54.5) | 11 (42.3) | 7 (100.0) | 0.009 |
| Endoscopic procedure | 8 (24.2) | 7 (26.9) | 1 (14.3) | 0.652 | |
| Cardiothoracic surgery | 4 (12.1) | 3 (11.5) | 1 (14.3) | 1.000 | |
| Intrabdominal surgery | 5 (15.2) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (71.4) | < 0.0001 | |
| Brain surgery | 2 (6.1) | 2 (7.7) | 0 (0.0) | 1.000 | |
| Biopsy | 2 (6.1) | 1 (3.8) | 1 (14.3) | 0.385 | |
| Bone marrow aspiration | 1 (3.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (14.3) | 0.212 | |
| Tumour resection | 3 (9.1) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (42.9) | 0.006 | |
| Other surgical procedures‡ | 2 (6.1) | 1 (3.8) | 1 (14.3) | 0.385 | |
| Underlying diseases, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | ||||
| Haemato-oncological diseases | 6 (18.2) | 2 (7.7) | 4 (57.1) | 0.011 | |
| Cardiovascular diseases | 8 (24.2) | 6 (23.1) | 2 (28.6) | 1.000 | |
| Diseases of the respiratory system | 13 (39.4) | 13 (50.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0.027 | |
| Endocrine diseases | 3 (9.1) | 3 (11.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1.000 | |
| Gastrointestinal diseases | 15 (45.5) | 11 (42.3) | 4 (57.1) | 0.674 | |
| Genitourinary diseases | 3 (9.1) | 1 (3.8) | 2 (28.6) | 0.107 | |
| Neurological diseases | 9 (27.3) | 8 (30.8) | 1 (14.3) | 0.642 | |
| Malformation syndromes affecting multiple systems | 3 (9.1) | 2 (7.7) | 1 (14.3) | 0.524 | |
| Chromosomal abnormalities | 3 (9.1) | 3 (11.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1.000 | |
| Ventilation†, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | ||||
| Invasive ventilation | 14 (42.4) | 10 (38.5) | 4 (57.1) | 0.422 | |
| Non-invasive ventilation | 17 (51.5) | 13 (50.0) | 4 (57.1) | 1.000 | |
| Chemotherapy⁓, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | ||||
| Yes | 4 (12.1) | 1 (3.8) | 3 (42.9) | 0.023 | |
| Reanimation⁓, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | ||||
| Yes | 5 (15.2) | 3 (11.5) | 2 (28.6) | 0.282 | |
| Overall hospitalisation before initial detection of VREfm° | 0 (0.0) | ||||
| Length of stay (in days), median (range) | 38 (0–276) | 38 (0–276) | 28 (0–106) | 0.659 | |
| Number of hospital admissions, median (range) | 1 (1–34) | 1 (1–34) | 1 (1–15) | 0.484 | |
| Glycopeptide resistance genotype, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | ||||
| vanA | 15 (45.5) | 14 (53.8) | 1 (14.3) | 0.095 | |
| vanB | 18 (54.5) | 12 (46.2) | 6 (85.7) |
Signficant values (marked in bold) were defined as p < 0.05
VREfm, Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium; NG/NJ tube, nasogastric/nasojejunal tube; PEG/PEJ tube, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy/jejunostomy tube
*Fisher’s exact test or Mann–Whitney U test (p 0.05 was considered significant)
†Within four weeks prior to detection of VREfm
‡Including one surgery of the anus, rectum and colon and one ovarian surgery for fertility preservation
⁓Within six months prior to detection of VREfm
°Including hospitalisation at Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, NICU Clinic and Polyclinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics and LMU Klinikum Großhadern