What is Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)?
Enterococci are a type of bacteria normally present in the human intestine and in the environment. These bacteria can sometimes cause infections. Vancomycin is an antibiotic that is often used to treat infections caused by enterococci. In some instances, enterococci have become resistant to this drug and thus are called Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE). VRE is spread from one person to another through direct contact. Hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent VRE.
VRE can be present on the caregiver’s hands either from touching contaminated material excreted by an infected person or from touching articles soiled by feces. VRE can survive on hands and can survive for weeks on inanimate objects such as toilet seats, taps, door handles, bedrails, furniture and bedpans. VRE is easy to kill with the proper use of disinfectants and good hand hygiene.
VRE Bacteraemia is the presence of the VRE bacteria in the blood stream and is referred to as the blood stream infection.
| Oct 2011 |
Nov 2011 |
Dec 2011 |
Jan 2012 |
Feb 2012 |
Mar 2012 |
Apr 2012 |
May 2012 |
Jun 2012 |
Jul 2012 |
Aug 2012 |
Sept 2012 |
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| Number of VRE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
To learn more about hospital infection control rates, please visit the Ministry and Long Term Care website.