I was completely ignorant on VRE, so I figured some others were too. Here's
the dope.
What is vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) ?
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a type of bacteria called
enterococci that have developed resistance to many antibiotics, especially
vancomycin. Enterococci bacteria live in our intestines and on our skin,
usually without causing problems.
Enterococci bacteria become a problem when they cause infection. These
infections can occur anywhere in the body. Some common sites include the
intestines, the urinary tract, and wounds. For some people, especially those
who are weak or ill, these infections can become serious.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci infections are treated with antibioticsthe
types of medicines that are normally used to kill bacteria. VRE infections
are more difficult to treat than other infections with enterococci because
fewer antibiotics are effective against the bacteria.
What causes a VRE infection?
VRE, like many bacteria, can be spread from one person to another through
casual contact or through contaminated objects. Most often, VRE is spread
from the hands of a healthcare professional to a patient in a hospital or
other healthcare setting. VRE is not usually spread through the air like the
common cold or flu virus unless you have VRE pneumonia and are coughing,
which is rare.
If you are healthy, your chances of getting VRE are very low. Even if you
have been exposed to VRE, or have VRE in your body, you are not likely to
get an infection. VRE infections generally only occur among people who have
weakened immune systems, such as people with long-term illnesses or people
who have had major surgery or other medical procedures and have been treated
with multiple antibiotics.
Experts do not know exactly why some people become infected with VRE and
others do not. But they do know that VRE infections are more likely to
develop when antibiotics such as vancomycin are used often. Given enough
time, bacteria can outsmart antibiotics so that these medicines no longer
work well. This is why VRE and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria are
sometimes called super bugs.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of a VRE infection depend on where the infection is. If VRE is
causing a wound infection, that area of your skin may be red or tender. If
you have a urinary tract infection, you may have back pain, a burning
sensation when you urinate, or a need to urinate more often than usual. Some
people with VRE infections have diarrhea, feel weak and sick, or have fever
and chills.
How is VRE diagnosed?
If your doctor suspects that you are infected with VRE, he or she will send
a sample of your infected wound, blood, urine, or stool to a lab. The lab
will grow the bacteria and then test to see which kinds of antibiotics kill
the bacteria. This test may take several days.
How are infections treated?
If you develop a serious infection with VRE, you will be isolated in a
private hospital room to reduce the chances of spreading the bacteria to
others. When your doctors and nurses are caring for you, they will use extra
precautions such as wearing gloves and gowns.
VRE infections may be difficult to cure because the bacteria do not respond
to many antibiotics. If you have an infection, your doctor will order
antibiotics that may be given by mouth or into a vein through an IV
(intravenously). Sometimes more than one antibiotic is prescribed to help
stop the infection. Part of your treatment may include sending samples of
your blood, urine, or stool to a lab to see if you still have VRE in your
body.
Some people get rid of VRE on their own as their bodies get stronger. This
can take a few months or even longer. Other times, an infection will go away
and then come back. Sometimes the infection will go away but the bacteria
will remain without causing infection. This is called colonization.
How can I prevent VRE?
As more antibiotic-resistant bacteria develop and more cases of VRE are
documented, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are taking extra care
to practice infection control, which includes frequent hand-washing and
isolation of patients infected with VRE.
Even though most healthy people are not at risk for becoming infected or
colonized with VRE, you can take steps to prevent getting VRE.
Practice good hygiene.
Keep your hands clean by washing them thoroughly with soap and warm water or
using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Hand-washing is the best way to avoid
infection of any kind.
Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage and avoid contact
with other peoples wounds or bandages.
Do not share personal items such as towels or razors.
Keep your environment clean by wiping frequently touched surfaces (such as
countertops, doorknobs, and light switches) with a disinfectant, especially
if someone in the house has VRE.
Be smart about using antibiotics. Know that antibiotics can help treat
bacterial infections but they cannot cure viral infections. Always ask your
doctor if antibiotics are the best treatment and avoid pressuring your
doctor into prescribing antibiotics when he or she thinks they won't help
you get better.
Always take all your antibiotic medicine as prescribed by your doctor. If
you use only part of the medicine, it may not cure your infection. Also, it
can cause antibiotic-resistant bacteria to develop.
Do not save any antibiotics and do not use antibiotics that were prescribed
for someone else.
(back to top)
Author: Colleen Cronin
Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Marvin Turck, MD - Infectious Diseases
Last Updated: August 26, 2005
ADVERTISEMENT
_________________________________________________________________
Test your celebrity IQ. Play Red Carpet Reveal and earn great prizes!
http://club.live.com/red_carpet_reveal.aspx?icid=redcarpet_hotmailtextlink2
