Staphylococcal and enterococcal infections in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Along with the successes in improving the survival of preterm neonates have come changes in the epidemiology of pathogens that cause healthcare-associated infections. Although gram-negative bacilli and group B streptococci predominated in past years, gram-positive organisms such as staphylococci and enterococci have since taken on greater roles. This shift has been accompanied by difficulties in defining optimal treatments for these pathogens because of emerging resistance patterns.