McCausland Hospital

"Providers of Care with Compassion & Concern"

VRE - Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcis

The McCausland Hospital takes your care and your safety very seriously, and we are committed to transparency.  On a monthly basis, beginning in December 2008, we will be reporting our VRE infection rates on our website.

If you have any questions about the information below or about our hospital's infection prevention and control program, please contact Teresa Roberts at 825-3273, ext 129.

Current VRE Rates for McCausland Hospital

Information for Patients and Families

What is VRE?

Enterococci are germs that live in the gastrointestinal tract (bowels) of most individuals and generally do not cause harm (this is termed "colonization").  Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are strains of enterococci that are resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin.  If a person has an infection caused by VRE, such as a urinary tract infection or blood infection, it may be more difficult to treat.

How is VRE spread?

VRE is spread from one person to another by contact, usually on the hands of caregivers.  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 well 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.

What about family/visitors?

Your family and visitors should not assist other patients with their personal care as this may cause the germ to spread.  They may be required to wear a long-sleeved gown and gloves while in your room.  Before leaving y our room, visitors must remove the gloves and gown and dispose of them in the garbage container and the linen hamper located in your room.  Then they must clean their hands.