Background and study aim: As part of the intestinal microbiota, Enterococcus faecalis is the most prevalent ‎enterococcal species in the human gastrointestinal tract and performs vital physiological ‎activities. It has become a common cause of nosocomial infections in critically ill patients, ‎resulting in life-threatening bacteremia and endocarditis. Alcohol-based hand washes have ‎been shown to prevent hospital-acquired infections with multidrug-resistant pathogens. The ‎aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of alcohol-based hand rub on protection against ‎Vancomycin-resistant Entero-coccus faecalis‎.‎
Materials and Methods: In the current prospective cohort study, we collected samples from patients presenting with ‎gastrointestinal symptoms. The patients were grouped into frequent (cases group) and ‎infrequent users (control group) of alcohol-based hand rub as a prophylactic measure for ‎SARS-CoV-2 infection. The alcohol and vancomycin susceptibility were examined over ‎three months.‎
Results: Thirty patients were included in each group. Alcohol resistance was significantly higher in ‎samples of group 1 compared to group 2 _the control group_ (36.7% compared to 3.3%, ‎with P = 0.01) at the first month. Same findings were observed at the second (46.7% vs. ‎‎3.3%, respectively) and third month (73.3% vs. 3.3%, respectively). Similarly, vancomycin ‎resistance was significantly higher in 33.3% of group 1, while group 2 showed 3.3% of ‎drug resistance (P < 0.001)‎‎‎‎‎‎‎.
Conclusion: Enterococcus faecalis resistance to alcohol and vancomycin was found to be considerably ‎increased in people who often used alcohol-based hand rub‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎.