Vancomycin Heteroresistance and Clinical Outcomes in Bloodstream Infections Caused by Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci

Abstract

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are a common etiology of serious and recurrent infections in immunocompromised patients. Although most isolates appear susceptible to vancomycin, a single strain might have a subpopulation of resistant bacteria. This phenomenon is termed heteroresistance and may adversely affect the response to treatment. A retrospective cohort study was performed of pediatric patients with leukemia treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital who developed CoNS central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI).