Enterococcus faecium hospital/farm/environment study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The relative importance of human and animal sources of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium
IRAS ID
150341
Contact name
Sharon Peacock
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Antibiotic resistance is recognised by the WHO as one of the three greatest threats to human health and its spread is challenging the ways we practice medicine. Enterococcus faecium (Efm), a bacterium carried harmlessly in the gut of humans and animals, has emerged as a leading cause of infections in severely immunocompromised patients in hospitals. It has a propensity to accumulate and disseminate antibiotic resistance determinants, in particular to vancomycin, one of the workhorse antibiotics in hospital. This makes its treatment more challenging and can lead to hospital outbreaks that are difficult to control.
This study proposes to use a cutting-edge technique, whole-genome sequencing, to elucidate the origins of vancomycin-resistant Efm (VREfm) in patients admitted for the treatment of haematological cancers at Addenbrooke's Hospital. In addition, we will sample slurry from livestock farms and wastewater from sewers to determine the frequency of VREfm in farms and the community, respectively. We will use computer software to compare the evolution of individual bacterial isolates and their resistance genes, establish links between patients on the same ward, and links between the 3 different reservoirs. By understanding the epidemiology of Efm, effective prevention strategies for healthcare-associated Efm infection (including VREfm) could be developed.REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/1123
Date of REC Opinion
10 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion