Caring for patients with VRE (lots of questions!)

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Specializes in Physical Rehabilitation.

I am going to ask a few dumb questions here, but I'd really like to learn the answers.

How is it that a patient can have VRE in a very specific area (such as stool) and not have it all over? Does VRE need a certain type of environment to grow? What types of environments can VRE be found in (ie body fluids)? How could it be found in only one location, and why wouldn't it spread to other areas (ie urine)? If someone has VRE should your precautions take into consideration that it could have spread and therefore use gloves even when giving routine care such as passing meds?

I really appreciate any help here, I just want to learn all I can about this.

Thank you!!!

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Try this page for more information:

http://www.cinetwork.com/otero/vre.html

Tons of reults on Google. Hope you find what your looking for.

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

Thanks for the link! Nice print out!

renerian

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Specializes in Physical Rehabilitation.
Try this page for more information:

http://www.cinetwork.com/otero/vre.html

Tons of reults on Google. Hope you find what your looking for.

Thank you so much for the awesome link! That was exactly what I was looking for :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

I know you have a lot of links there,, and thats great,, but rather than a link all i can say is,, if you have a infection in your toenail it doesnt mean its in your hand, arm, throat, intestine ahyy? Isolation for VRE is as much to keep you from spreading it to other more susptable hosts such as other patients on the floor. You are also at risk but if you use good universal precations outside of the isolation required for VRE there shouldnt be a real problem. Understandable if you care for a patient THEN find out they have VRE, but if you have good consistent universal precations otherwise you shouldnt be all that worried.

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vre stands for vancomycin resistant enterococcus, which means it would be initiated from the gi system, thus the stools.

i haven't read the links but am just replying according to my logic (which is iffy :rolleyes: )

leslie

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I am going to ask a few dumb questions here, but I'd really like to learn the answers.

How is it that a patient can have VRE in a very specific area (such as stool) and not have it all over? Does VRE need a certain type of environment to grow? What types of environments can VRE be found in (ie body fluids)? How could it be found in only one location, and why wouldn't it spread to other areas (ie urine)? If someone has VRE should your precautions take into consideration that it could have spread and therefore use gloves even when giving routine care such as passing meds?

I really appreciate any help here, I just want to learn all I can about this.

Thank you!!!

With any pt. in isolation for VRE at our facility we are required to wear gloves anytime you enter the room, even for just med passes or just to drop off a meal tray.

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Specializes in Physical Rehabilitation.

Thank you all for your insight, it is appreciated! I feel a lot better knowing more about this.

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

We are required to gown up and gloves anytime when entering the room with VRE, C-Diff, etc.

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Specializes in Physical Rehabilitation.
We are required to gown up and gloves anytime when entering the room with VRE, C-Diff, etc.

My Nurse Manager said only use a gown if coming into contact with stool/urine. The patient is incontinent, so it could be everywhere! I'm wearing a gown and gloves at all times.

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