Increase of VRE in Danish hospitals

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is a problem in many countries. It is primarily a hospital-acquired infection that is very difficult to treat and can have serious consequences for the patients and the hospitals.

What is VRE? We have approximately 2 kg of bacteria in our body. One of these species is called enterococci, and lives in the intestines and genital tract. Sometimes they can trigger infections and are then treated with a potent antibiotic called vancomycin that is designed to kill them. Some of the enterococci become resistant to vancomycin, and is then called vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). They are dangerous because they are difficult to treat and can cause bloodstream infections. Data indicate that mortality is twice as high compared with other bloodstream infections such as MRSA.

Good surveillance in Denmark. There has been systematic surveillance of VRE since 2005 and data shows that the numbers have more than doubled from 2013 to 2019. It is a problem in modern healthcare where patients ofte are transferred from hospital to hospital to receive specialized treatment. It is therefore key that all hospitals are aware of the problem with VRE and knows how to avoid the infection.

The problem is not only big in Europe. An estimated 20,000 people in the US become infected with VRE each year and almost 10% of the patients die of the infection.

How can you prevent the spread of VRE?

• Keep the hands clean. Wash with soap and water (particularly when visibly soiled) and use alcohol-based hand rubs.
• Wear gloves if hands may come in contact with body fluids that may contain VRE, such as stool or bandages from infected wounds. Always wash the hands after removing gloves.
• If someone has VRE, be sure to tell healthcare providers so that they are aware of the infection. Healthcare facilities use special precautions to help prevent the spread of VRE to others.
• Infected patients are placed on isolation precautions.

Here you can read more about the recommendations for preventing the spread of VRE.

Want to know more? Read the latest article published in Eurosurveillance or the Danish article at Statens Serum Institut. Further information can also be found at CDC.