Officials at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) are pleased to inform the public that the Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) outbreak is under control.
“VRE was first identified at the QEH in late April 2008. Staff have been actively working to stop the spread of these organisms in the hospital. This outbreak has helped us to strengthen our infection prevention and control practices,” said Rick Adams, Executive Director of the QEH. “We have implemented stringent infection control measures to prevent further transmission of VRE. I am pleased to inform the public that these measures have been successful in bringing the VRE outbreak under control.”
A number of measures implemented during the outbreak will continue as part of normal procedures, such as enhanced environmental cleaning and increased surveillance. New types of disposable supplies such as gowns and new equipment have also been introduced, as well as an increased focus on hand hygiene practices for all people within the hospital.
The public is advised that a number of enhanced infection control measures will continue to remain in place. People will be required to use the antiseptic hand wash available at all entrances when coming in or out of the hospital, travelling between units, or going in and out of a patient’s room. This will now be the new normal protocol within the QEH and will help prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria, including VRE.
Visiting restrictions will also remain in place to minimize risk and will be assessed on a daily basis. These restrictions include:
• Immediate family only
• One visitor at a time per patient
• No children under the age of 12 permitted
• Children above the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Infection, prevention and control professionals at the QEH will also continue to carry out appropriate surveillance to help prevent another outbreak. The hospital will also maintain increased cleaning measures which, along with other infection control practices, will form part of routine operations at the hospital.
“Enterococci are bacteria commonly found in the bowel of most people, “ said Dr. Christine Veal, Chair of the QEH Infection Control Committee. “VRE are enterococci resistant to the antibiotic normally used to treat them and can live in the human intestines without causing harm to the person. A person who carries VRE, but has no symptoms, is said to be colonized with the bacteria. VRE can occasionally cause infections but usually only in those who are already severely ill.”
VRE is commonly spread on hands, equipment and sometimes the environment. VRE is not more contagious than other bacteria, but a VRE infection is harder to treat. It is therefore important that hospital staff members and visitors exercise good hand hygiene measures at all times.