VRE update – Dunedin Hospital

VRE update – Dunedin Hospital

Friday 22 April 2016

One more sample at Dunedin Hospital has screened positive for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE). This brings the total number of people with positive screening results to six. These are colonisations with VRE (the bacteria is in or on patient’s body, however they are not sick because of it) and the patients have not developed an infection.

All patients colonised with VRE have been isolated whilst in hospital, and we continue with enhanced infection prevention and control protocols in the areas where affected.

“The majority of the large number of screening results have now come back and it appears that the infection has been contained thanks to the hard work of our staff.”

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

“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,” commented Dr Millar.

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

END.

© Scoop Media