VRE, or vancomycin-resistant enterococcus, is an infection caused by bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin
. Enterococcus is a type of bacteria that normally lives in the intestines and the female genital tract and can cause infections in various parts of the body, such as the bloodstream, urinary tract, brain, and heart valves
. VRE infections typically affect people who are already sick and in the hospital, as they have fewer options for effective treatment
. VRE is spread through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment, or via contaminated hands
. It is not spread through the air by coughing or sneezing
. People with weakened immune systems, such as patients in intensive care units or those with cancer or transplant wards, are at increased risk for getting infected with VRE
. VRE infections can be diagnosed by taking a sample from the infection site (e.g., wound, blood, or urine) and sending it to a laboratory for testing
. If VRE is found in a specimen taken from a patient while they are in the hospital, the healthcare team will continue to provide the same level of care
. In some cases, VRE can enter the bloodstream, leading to symptoms such as fever, shivering, and low blood pressure
. Treatment for VRE infections generally involves antibiotics other than vancomycin, as the bacteria have become resistant to it
. When VRE infections do not respond to treatment, new antibiotics to treat VRE are under development
. People colonized with VRE do not need to have any treatment or antibiotics, but if the VRE is causing an infection, there are still some antibiotics that can be used
