What is vancomycin-resistant enterococci?

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a type of bacteria called enterococci that have developed resistance to many antibiotics, especially vancomycin. Enterococci bacteria live in our intestines and on our skin, usually without causing problems. But if they become resistant to antibiotics, they can cause serious infections, especially in people who are ill or weak. These infections can occur anywhere in the body. Some common sites include the intestines, the urinary tract, and wounds.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci infections are treated with antibiotics, which are the types of medicines normally used to kill bacteria. VRE infections are more difficult to treat than other infections with enterococci, because fewer antibiotics can kill the bacteria.

Symptoms of a VRE infection depend on where the infection is:

• If VRE is in a wound, that area of your skin may be red or tender.
• If VRE is in the urinary tract, you may have back pain, a burning sensation when you urinate, or a need to urinate more often than usual.

You may also:

• Have diarrhea.
• Feel weak and sick.
• Have a 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.

• Most VRE infections are treated with antibiotics.
  • Take your antibiotics as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
  • VRE infections may be hard to cure. Bacteria do not respond to many antibiotics.
  • You may need more than one antibiotic to stop the infection.
• If you get a serious infection with VRE, you may have to stay in the hospital for treatment. While there, you may be kept apart from others to reduce the chances of spreading the bacteria.
• You may have samples of your blood, urine, or stool sent to a lab. This checks to see if you still have VRE in your body.
• If you don't have symptoms, your doctor may not give you antibiotics. This may help keep VRE from becoming more resistant to antibiotics.