{
  "abstract": "Objective: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has improved our understanding on epidemiology and transmission of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE). However, regional differences in strain distribution patterns remain poorly reported. In this narrative review, we summarize current evidence in Germany.\n\nMethods: A systematic PubMed search was conducted for studies describing WGS-based typing of VRE in Germany published between 2015 and 2025 (n = 39). A relevant national surveillance report was included additionally.\n\nResults: Data availability varies regionally, with highest reporting rates in north-western and south-eastern Germany. The German VRE population is predominantly composed of six major lineages: vanB-positive sequence types (ST) 80, 117, 192, and 203, and vanA-positive ST78 and ST1299. While ST192, ST203, and ST78 declined over time, ST80 and ST117 and their sub-lineages are nationally endemic. Core genome analyses demonstrate stable distribution of regionally specific complex types (CT) including ST80/CT1065/vanB and ST1299/CT1903/vanA in southern Germany, and ST117/CT71/vanB and ST80/CT1470/vanA in the north-west. Notably, ST80 exhibits greater CT diversity than ST117, reflecting its wider evolutionary plasticity.\n\nConclusion: Although unevenly reported, persistent regional differences in dominant lineages are evident, underscoring the necessity and value of high-resolution genomic surveillance beyond national-level reporting. Ultimately, this strategy could improve transmissions and outbreak analysis, and facilitate identification of lineage-specific virulence determinants.\n\nSupplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-026-02890-z.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Infection Prevention and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany",
    "University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany"
  ],
  "article_type": "review article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Anca Rath",
      "orcid": "0009-0003-1992-1897"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Wulf Schneider-Brachert"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9c9wb2ys6b2d3.bib",
  "cited_by": 1,
  "doi": "10.1007/s15010-026-02890-z",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13727963/",
  "id": "9c9wb2ys6b2d3",
  "issns": [
    "0300-8126",
    "1439-0973"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-026-02890-z",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Review"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2725|Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7171793474",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13727963",
  "pmid": "42533230",
  "published": "2026-07-30",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9c9wb2ys6b2d3.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-06T12:23:44Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13727963",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-026-02890-z"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2725|Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus",
      "subfield": "infectious-disease"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Limited, outbreak-biased and unevenly reported: genomic insights into vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in Germany as reported between 2015 and 2025",
  "title_text": "Limited, outbreak-biased and unevenly reported: genomic insights into vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in Germany as reported between 2015 and 2025",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T12:23:44Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9c9wb2ys6b2d3",
  "venue": "Infection",
  "versions": []
}