Background: Multi-drug-resistant enterococci are the major source of infection as well as nosocomial spread. There is scarcity of data ondrug-resistant enterococci in developing country including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the magnitude of drug resistant enterococcus species from intestinal tracts of hospitalized pediatric patients.

Method: The study was conducted among hospitalized pediatric patients at DebreBerhanreferral hospital, from February 15 to March, 25 2016. Rectal swabs was collected and processed for bacterial isolation and susceptibility testing. The isolates was identified to species level by cultural characteristics, Gram's stain, catalase test and other biochemical tests. Susceptibility testing to antimicrobial agents was done using Kirby- Bauer disk diffusion method.

Result: Enterococci were isolated from 12 (23%) of the study participants. The isolates were Enterococcus faecium(50%),Enterococcus faecalis(33.3%) and Enterococcus gallinarum(16.7%). Among 12 tested Enterococci isolates, 5 (41.7%) were resistant to ampicillin, 7(58.3%) to streptomycin, 6 (50%) to gentamycin. 7(58.3%) to ciprofloxacin, 5(41.7%) to norfloxacin and 8(66.7%) to erythromycin. Multiple drugresistance was observed among 75% of E. faeciumand E. faecalis. Vancomycin resistant Enterococci were observedin 16.7% of E. faeciumisolates.

Conclusion: This study reveals high rate of fecal colonization by multidrug-resistant enterococci and prevalence of vancomycin resistance strains. Thus periodic surveillance of antibiotic susceptibilities is recommended to detect emerging resistance and to prevent its spread.