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Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci Infection

(VRE Infection; Multiply-Resistant Enterococci)

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

En Español (Spanish Version)

Definition

Enterococci is bacteria that can cause infection. Vancomycin is an antibiotic used to treat this infection. It does not work on some types of the bacteria. This is called vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection.

The Intestines

Causes

The bacteria spreads from people or objects that carry it. This can cause the infection.

A VRE infection is one that does not get better when a person takes vancomycin.

Risk Factors

Things that may raise the risk are:

Being treated with vancomycin or another antibiotic for a long time
Recent hospital or care center stay
Recent surgery or a device inserted
Having a weakened immune system from problems like cancer

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on where the infection is found. A person may have problems from a:

Urinary tract infection
Abdominal and pelvic infection
Surgical wound infection
Sepsis—an overreaction of the body to infection
Endocarditis—an infection of the inside of the heart muscles and valves
Meningitis—an infection of the layers that surround the brain and spinal cord

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done.

Blood tests will be done. Samples will also be taken of the area that is infected. This can help the doctor choose an antibiotic that will treat it.

Treatment

The goal is to treat the infection. This can be done with:

Antibiotics

VRE infection can be treated with other antibiotics. The one that is chosen depends on the infection and how severe it is.

Catheter Removal

A person who has a catheter in place may have it removed. This lowers the risk of more infection.

Prevention

Proper hand washing can lower the risk of VRE infection.

RESOURCES:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov

National Institutes of Health
https://www.nih.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
https://www.cag-acg.org

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

REFERENCES:

Cattoir V, Leclercq R. Twenty-five years of shared life with vancomycin-resistant enterococci: is it time to divorce? J Antimicrob Chemother. 2013 Apr;68(4):731-742.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/vancomycin-resistant-enterococci-vre-infection. Accessed September 17, 2020.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in healthcare settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/vre/vre.html. Accessed September 17, 2020.

Last reviewed March 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Kari Kassir, MD Last Updated: 4/13/2021

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