Emerg Infect DiseidEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-6059Centers for Disease Control100816822627684Research ArticleProficiency of clinical laboratories in and near Monterrey, Mexico, to detect vancomycin-resistant enterococci.McDonaldL. C.GarzaL. R.JarvisW. R.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.Jan-Feb199951143146

Early detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci is important for preventing its spread among hospitalized patients. We surveyed the ability of eight hospital laboratories in and near Monterrey, Mexico, to detect vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus spp. and found that although laboratories can reliably detect high-level vancomycin resistance, many have difficulty detecting low-level resistance.