Changes in fecal flora were evaluated in 22 healthy volunteers administered oral vancomycin or teicoplanin in 1989–1991 in Belgium. Evaluation of 5 colonies per subject revealed no glycopeptide-resistant enterococci in the predominant flora before glycopeptide administration; however, large numbers (mostly Enterococcusfaecium) emerged by the end of the study in 14 (64%) of the subjects. Pediococci and lactobacilli also increased in number. In 1992, 40 healthy volunteers and 33 cancer patients were evaluated by plating stool samples directly onto selective media containing vancomycin; low numbers of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (vanA in Tn1546-like elements. These results indicate that vanA and Tn1546-like elements were common in Belgium as early as 1989 and that community-based individuals in that location likely form a major reservoir for glycopeptide-resistant enterococci.