OBJECTIVE There is a paucity of information on vancomycin resistance in enterococci from India. In the present study, enterococci isolated from urine specimen were screened for vancomycin resistance. METHODS 144 enterococci isolates obtained in pure and significant numbers (>10(5) cfu/ml) from 9664 urine specimens were subjected to agar screen method of National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standard (NCCLS) for presence/absence of vancomycin resistance. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was performerd by E-test and agar dilution method. RESULTS Eight vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) were obtained, namely, 5 Enterococcus faecium, 1 each of Enterococcus faecalis, E. casseliflavus and E. pseudoavium. The MIC ranged from 8 to 32-microgm/ml. The records of these 8 patients were retrospectively reviewed for clinical details. Five patients had nosocomial urinary tract infection (UTI), while in 2 patients UTI was community acquired. One patient had asymptomatic bacteriuria. Two patients with nosocomial UTI developed clinical sepsis and died in spite of vancomycin treatment. Urinary catheterization, surgery on genitourinary tract, prior exposure to third generation cephalosporins and metronidazole were present in 6,5,3 and 2 patients respectively. CONCLUSIONS Although the frequency of isolation of VRE is not very high in our setting as compared to West, this may just be the beginning of the problem. Screening for vancomycin resistance is recommended in all patients with suspected UTI who have significant bacterial counts.