Normal Microbiota Suppresses Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus

Normal commensal bacteria in the colon can secrete a lantibiotic that decreases VRE colonization.

Given how often oral vancomycin therapy is administered to hospitalized patients, it's reasonable to wonder why there isn't an even higher incidence of infections due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) strains than what is currently seen. An international team of investigators have now provided an explanation: Normal components of the colonic flora can promote resistance to this pathogen.

In prior work, members of this research team had found that strains of four commensal bacteria — Clostridium bolteae, Blautia producta, Bacteroides sartorii, and Parabacteroides distasonis — restored colonization resistance to VRE in antibiotic-treated mice. In the present work, they determined that one specific strain of B. producta (BP_SCSK), as we…

Reviewing Author

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Normal Microbiota Suppresses Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus

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Reviewing Author