Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Vancomycin (van-ko-MY-sin) resistant enterococcus (en-ter-oh-KOK-us) is a bacteria (bak-TEER-e-uh) (germ) that causes bad infections. It is also called VRE. Enterococci (en-ter-oh-KOX-e) live in your stomach, and usually only cause infection when you are not well. VRE may affect many different parts of your body. VRE can also infect your blood, which can be very serious. VRE is part of a growing number of bacteria that have mutated (changed) over the years. These bacteria cannot be killed by a powerful antibiotic (an-ti-bi-AH-tik) medicine called vancomycin. It also is not killed easily by many other antibiotics that caregivers use for infections. VRE is a major health concern for caregivers. It cannot be treated very easily and is very contagious (kun-TAY-jus) (easy to spread).
  
  
• You can get VRE from being in the intensive care unit (ICU) or having surgery. You can also get it if you have health problems that keep coming back or have a weak immune system. This is when your body cannot fight off illnesses others would normally fight off. VRE can make you very sick for a long time. Your caregiver will have you take an antibiotic to treat the VRE. You will be on "contact precautions" while you have VRE. This is to prevent people from getting it and spreading it to others.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

There are risks with having VRE. You could have an allergic (uh-LER-jik) reaction to the antibiotic you are taking for the VRE. The antibiotic may not work for you. This could cause your infection to last longer. Your infection could spread and infect your heart or get into your blood. You may also need surgery to help get rid of your infection. You may also be infected with VRE for a long time since it is very hard to get rid of. Your infection could get worse and you could die. Ask your caregiver if you have any questions or concerns.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

IV: An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and liquid.

Vital signs: This includes taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeat), and respirations (counting your breaths). To take your blood pressure, a cuff is put on your arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how you are doing.

Blood tests: You may need blood taken for tests. The blood can be taken from a blood vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. It is tested to see how your body is doing. It can give your caregivers more information about your health condition. You may need to have blood drawn more than once.

Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria.

• As long as you are in the hospital with VRE, you will be on special precautions called "contact precautions." This means that any caregiver that enters your room will wear gloves, a gown, and a mask. This is to protect caregivers from getting and spreading VRE. You will also be put into a private room. If another patient also has VRE, you may be put in the same room with that patient. While in a private room, you will be allowed to have visitors, but they will need to wear gloves and gowns. Everyone will need to wash their hands with germ-killing soap when they leave your room.
  
  
• VRE may live on many objects. If someone touches these objects, they may get VRE and give it to others. Caregivers will leave certain equipment in your room so that other patients and caregivers are not exposed to VRE. This equipment may include a stethoscope, thermometer, blood pressure cuff, and tape. It will not be used on anyone else.

What tests may I have in the hospital?

• Blood Cultures: Your blood may be tested to see if there is VRE in it. This will help your caregivers decide what medicine will work best to kill your VRE. You may need to have your blood tested more than one time.
  
  

• CT Scan: This test is also called a "CAT" scan. A special x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of your infected area. Your caregivers then look at the pictures of your infected area. Before taking pictures, you may be given dye through an IV. The dye helps the infected area show up better in the pictures. People who are allergic to shellfish (lobster, crab, shrimp) may be allergic to this dye. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any of these.
  
  
• MRI: A MRI allows your caregivers to see inside your body. During the MRI, pictures are taken of your infected area. Caregivers use these pictures to look for infected areas which may be affecting your bone or tissue. They also look for areas that contain fluid that may need to be removed.
  
  
• Ultrasound: This is a test using soundwaves to look at your infected area. Pictures of your infected area show up on a TV-like screen. Your caregiver may also choose to have a Doppler ultrasound. Doppler adds color and sound to show blood flow. The ultrasound will help your caregiver see infected areas and fluid that may need to be removed. Your caregiver will also be able to tell if blood flow to the infected area is not normal.

Will I need surgery? It is possible that you may need surgery to help get rid of your infection. This may be necessary if you have fluid that has built up inside the infected area. You may also need surgery if your infection is not responding to your antibiotic. Ask your caregiver if you have any questions or concerns about surgery.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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