Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42348525›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Regional VRE surveillance using routine centralised, multicentre whole genome sequencing.

Djamayl L H H Engelen, Jean-Luc Murk, Veronica A T C Weterings, Heike Schmitt, Bram M W Diederen, Andreas L E van Arkel, Jaco J Verweij, Wouter van den Bijllaardt, Jeroen H T Tjhie, Joep J J M Stohr

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Djamayl L H H EngelenMicrovida, Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8148-6373
Jean-Luc MurkMicrovida, Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3661-9035
Veronica A T C WeteringsDepartment of infection prevention and control, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1101-4494
Heike SchmittNational Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) - Centre for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Bram M W DiederenMicrovida, Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Bravis Hospital, Roosendaal, The Netherlands.
Andreas L E van ArkelMicrovida, Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Admiraal de Ruyter Hospital, Goes, The Netherlands.
Jaco J VerweijMicrovida, Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Wouter van den BijllaardtMicrovida, Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands.
Jeroen H T TjhieMicrovida, Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0738-4306
Joep J J M StohrMicrovida, Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveWhole genome sequencing (WGS) is increasingly used to support infection prevention and control. However, its application for routine regional surveillance of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) across multiple healthcare facilities is still evolving. This study describes the implementation of routine centralised multicenter WGS surveillance of VREfm and explores its utility for detecting clusters and investigating transmission within and between healthcare institutions in a regional healthcare network.

methodsVREfm isolates identified from patient samples (clinical and screening) in five different hospitals in the Netherlands during a one-year period were whole genome sequenced and typed using core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). Sequence data were correlated with admission data of the year prior to the first positive VREfm culture of the respective patients. By combining epidemiological and sequence data within and between hospital transmission events were identified.

results57 VREfm isolates were detected during the study period. 38/57 (66.7%) isolates clustered with at least one other isolate. Based on our definitions, intrahospital transmission could be demonstrated in 37 of 38 cases and interhospital transmission in 3 of 38 cases. Using this approach, a multicenter outbreak and two local outbreaks were detected.

conclusionsRoutine whole genome sequencing of VREfm is a powerful tool for detecting, tracing and delineating outbreaks. When integrated into a centralised surveillance system spanning collaborative healthcare networks, it becomes an essential tool for unraveling the complex transmission dynamics of VRE within and between hospitals, ultimately strengthening infection control strategies.

Indexed as

Enterococcus faeciumGram-Positive Bacterial InfectionsVancomycin-Resistant EnterococciWhole Genome SequencingCross InfectionDisease OutbreaksGenome, BacterialHumansMultilocus Sequence TypingNetherlands

Identifiers

PMID42348525
PMCPMC13298964

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.