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Objective: Assess the prevalence of asymptomatic carriage of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci in a population of healthy young French subjects., Methods: Stool samples obtained from 100 persons living in south-eastern France (20 sampling sites) were directly seeded on enriched selective media containing 6 mg/l vancomycin. Bacterial species and their resistant gene were identified with classical methods and multiplex genomic amplification., Results: The incidence of asymptomatic carriage was 17% with a homogeneous geographic distribution of the resistant strains. Nine Enterococcus faecium van A strains and 8 E. gallinarum van C1 strains were isolated., Conclusion: These findings demonstrate carriage of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci in a population of young ambulatory subjects in France. The incidence observed was much higher than in an earlier study conducted in France. These results might be explained by a much more sensitive detection technique. Care should be taken to avoid dissemination in hospital settings.

Dirofilariasis involving Dirofilaria repens is an exceedingly rare event in France. Most cases have involved subcutaneous lesions but ocular and peri-ocular involvement have been observed. The present report describes a case of dirofilariasis involving the conjunctiva in a 61 year-old-man in France. Onset was characterized by the sudden appearance of painful conjunctival cyst. Clinical examination and laboratory tests did not allow diagnosis. Opening the cyst and extracting the parasite allowed diagnosis and treatment. Microscopic examination identified the parasite as a female Dirofilaria repens. This new case of ocular dirofilariasis emphasizes that this parasitic disease is present and probably underestimated in mainland France. Opening of the conjunctival cyst allowed identification of the parasite and successful treatment without sequels.