How can vre be spread

Antibiotic resistance occurs when the germs no longer respond to the antibiotics designed to kill them. If these germs develop resistance to vancomycin, an antibiotic that is used to treat some drug-resistant infections, they become vancomycin-resistant enterococci VRE. VRE can spread from one person to another through contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment or through person to person spread, often via contaminated hands. It is not spread through the air by coughing or sneezing.

When VRE infections do develop, they are generally treated with antibiotics other than vancomycin. In order to identify the best antibiotic to treat a specific infection, healthcare providers will send a specimen often called a culture to the laboratory and test any bacteria that grow against a set of antibiotics to determine which are active against the germ.

The provider will then select an antibiotic based on the activity of the antibiotic and other factors like potential side effects or interactions with other drugs.

Some people will carry VRE on their body without it causing symptoms, which is called being colonized. People who are colonized do not require antibiotics. National Library of Medicine offers essential information about who is at risk for VRE and how to prevent the spread of this potentially dangerous, even deadly bacteria. Michigan Medicine. Additional reporting by Joseph Bennington-Castro. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools.

Reviewed: January 22, Medically Reviewed. Enterococci are bacteria that normally live in the intestines and in the female genital tract, and are also present in soil and water. According to the U. National Library of Medicine, VRE infections can be difficult to treat because there are fewer antibiotics that can fight this resistant bacteria.

The report classifies 18 antibiotic-resistant germs into three categories — urgent, serious, and concerning. VRE can infect the bloodstream, the urinary tract as a UTI , and wounds associated with catheters or surgery. Urinary tract infections can cause:. VRE is typically not spread through the air like a cold or the flu and it cannot be spread through casual contact such as hugging.

These bacteria can change mutate so they are harder to kill. Then, the antibiotics that used to kill them no longer work. These bacteria are called antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The symptoms of a VRE infection depend on where the infection is.

If VRE are 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. 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. If you get a serious infection with VRE, you may 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 may 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 infections 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.

These infections can be hard to treat because doctors have fewer options that are effective against the resistant bacteria. Some VRE infections may be life-threatening. If you get sick from VRE, you might have these symptoms:. Most VRE infections happen in people who are in the hospital. People who are infected often have a serious illness or weakened immune system. Most VRE infections are transmitted in hospitals.

The doctor takes a sample of blood, urine, pus, or other fluid from the infected area. The sample is sent to a lab to be tested for VRE. Your doctor can take a culture of the bacteria and have it tested in a laboratory to see which antibiotic might work best.

Healthcare workers can prevent VRE by keeping all surfaces and medical equipment sanitized. They should wash their hands with soap and water before working with each new patient. They should also wear disposable gloves. You can also prevent VRE by practicing good hygiene if someone in your home is infected.