Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE)
Prevention
Proper hand hygiene—thorough washing with soap and then drying—is the best way to prevent the spread of enterococci.
The CDC Hospital Infection Control Program encourages hospitals to develop their own institution-specific plans, which should stress
- Prudent vancomycin use by clinicians
- Hospital staff education regarding vancomycin resistance
- Early detection and prompt reporting of vancomycin resistance in enterococci and other gram-positive microorganisms by the hospital microbiology laboratory
- Immediate implementation of appropriate infection control measures to prevent person-to-person VRE transmission