Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) (cont.)
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) risks
Enterococci can survive for months. It primarily resides in the human
digestive system and the female genital tract; the enterococci make up a
significant part of the normal bacterial population of these sites in healthy
people.
However, colonization can progress to infection, particularly for people with
certain risk factors. The infection can lead to diseases of the urinary tract,
bloodstream, heart valves (endocarditis), and brain (meningitis), as well as to
serious infections in open wounds.
Some of the risks for acquiring VRE infection are
- Persons who have been previously treated with vancomycin and combinations of
other antibiotics, such as penicillin and
gentamicin
- Persons who are hospitalized, particularly when they receive antibiotic
treatment for long periods of time
- Persons with weakened immune systems, such as patients
in intensive-care units, cancer, or transplant wards
- Persons who have undergone surgical procedures, such as
abdominal or chest surgery
- Persons with medical devices that stay in for some time,
such as urinary catheters or central intravenous catheters
Enterococcal infections are more common in elderly
people, particularly those in long-term care facilities and skilled nursing
homes because they are more
likely to experience infection risk factors, such as exposure to medical
instruments.
Next: Transmission of of vancomycin-resistant enterococci »
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