Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) – Dunedin Hospital

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) – Dunedin Hospital

Five patients recently admitted to Dunedin Hospital have screened positive for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE). These patients are colonised with VRE (the bacteria is in or on patient’s body, however they are not sick because of it) and they have not developed an infection.
Isolation of this resistant bacteria is rare and so the DHB believes that the five colonisations are likely to be connected, but it has not been possible to identify how.

“Southern DHB takes any positive results for antibiotic resistant bacteria very seriously, and we are screening patients who have come in close contact, or shared a room with the patients identified as being colonised with VRE. We are getting in touch with contacts who have left hospital and providing information to their General Practice teams and other relevant health care providers, though the risk to them is very low,” said Southern DHB Chief Medical Officer, Mr Nigel Millar.

The DHB has also put in place enhanced infection prevention and control protocols in the areas where identified patients have been treated to include patient isolation and deep cleaning of the potentially affected areas.

“Hand hygiene is our priority and it is the simplest, most effective way to prevent the spread of infections. Although Southern DHB has high hand hygiene compliance compared to other DHBs in New Zealand our goal is to keep improving and reach 100%.

“It is quite safe to come to Dunedin hospital,” said Mr Millar. “Although VRE can be carried from patient-to-patient on the hands of healthcare workers, there is no concern or risk of staff or visitors being affected. The controls in place are designed to prevent spread between patients and we have confidence in these and the professionalism of our staff. We are determined to take all the steps we can to limit the risks.”

This is the first time that VRE has been identified in a Southern DHB patient. It has however been an increasing problem in other DHBs in New Zealand and across the world over the past few years.

Mr Millar commented that, “VRE stems from the overuse of antibiotics and we need to reduce antibiotic resistance by monitoring the use of antibiotics, prescribe antibiotics correctly and aim to reduce overall use. We have all have a role to play in reducing substantially our use of antibiotics and that includes health professionals and patients.”

“There is international concern that if we fail to stem this problem we will have common infections resistant to all available antibiotics.”

ENDS

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