Donor-derived vancomycin-resistant enterococci transmission and bloodstream infection after intestinal transplantation

We present data from a case of VRE transmission following intestinal transplantation. The recipient, not previously colonized with VRE, developed VRE abdominal and bloodstream infections after transplantation. VRE was also detected in the allograft perfusion fluid collected prior to transplantation. All isolated VRE strains were analyzed employing whole genome sequencing techniques. This analysis showed a very close genetic relatedness between all strains, thus allowing the reconstruction of the VRE transmission. The colonized intestinal allograft was identified as the source of the VRE infections developed by the recipient, who had tested negative for VRE colonization in a pre-transplant screening.