So upset about VRE!!!

Gr8Dane · Jun 14, 2008

Working w/ Cdif patients isnt any safer, still an infection related to abx. Cdif is far more contagious and easier to catch.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2008

What causes a VRE infection?

VRE, like many bacteria, can be spread from one person to another through casual contact or through contaminated objects. Most often, VRE is spread from the hands of a health professional to a patient in a hospital or other health care setting. VRE is not usually spread through the air like the common cold or flu virus unless you have VRE pneumonia and are coughing, which is rare.

If you are healthy, your chances of getting VRE are very low. Even if you have been exposed to VRE, or have VRE in your body, you are not likely to get an infection. VRE infections generally only occur among people who have weakened immune systems, such as people with long-term illnesses or people who have had major surgery or other medical procedures and have been treated with multiple antibiotics.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/vancomycin-resistant-enterococci-vre-overview

november17, ASN, RN · Jun 14, 2008

If you use universal precautions, none of that should be that big of a deal. Relax.

Deb123j · Jun 14, 2008

If you use universal precautions, none of that should be that big of a deal. Relax.

If I wasn't pregnant...I wouldn't care, however there has to be some reason that my ob said NOT to take care of a pt who has VRE, because it's dangerous for my baby. :banghead:

jmgrn65, RN · Jun 14, 2008

If I wasn't pregnant...I wouldn't care, however there has to be some reason that my ob said NOT to take care of a pt who has VRE, because it's dangerous for my baby.

That may be true, however the op is right if you used universal percautions you should be fine and it also depends on where the vre is/was?

CVICURN2003 · Jun 14, 2008

I took care of all kinds of isolation patients when I was preggo. And pulled patients up...and cleaned poo....I took care of at least one (known) VRE patient. I took care of a patient with full blown ES AIDS.

I was just very careful. Just like I am now with a houseful of kids to go home to. Happy Baby!

Check with your OBGYN if you are really bothered. One of the girls I work with did manage to get a note not saying she could not take care of any isolation patients while pregnant.

KyPinkRN · Jun 14, 2008

Check with your OBGYN if you are really bothered. One of the girls I work with did manage to get a note not saying she could not take care of any isolation patients while pregnant.

As a now pregnant nurse, I would never put my coworkers in the position of having to take on all the isolation patients just because I am pregnant. This is incredibly unfair to other staff. In my first pregnancy I worked 12 hour days on a transport ambulance (lifting and transferring patients all day, some with isolation precautions) right up until delivery... had a textbook pregnancy, and labor. I am one of seven pregnant women on my unit right now, if we all didn't care for isolation patients that would put an enormous strain on our non-pregnant colleagues.

CVICURN2003 · Jun 14, 2008

Check with your OBGYN if you are really bothered. One of the girls I work with did manage to get a note not saying she could not take care of any isolation patients while pregnant.

As a now pregnant nurse, I would never put my coworkers in the position of having to take on all the isolation patients just because I am pregnant. This is incredibly unfair to other staff. In my first pregnancy I worked 12 hour days on a transport ambulance (lifting and transferring patients all day, some with isolation precautions) right up until delivery... had a textbook pregnancy, and labor. I am one of seven pregnant women on my unit right now, if we all didn't care for isolation patients that would put an enormous strain on our non-pregnant colleagues.

I agree...what I did not put in my first post is that she only lasted a few weeks after she gave her note. She went to a different area...home health..which so puzzled me because of her being worried about germs...We have about seven pregnant women in my ICU now. One of them took care of a VRE patient yesterday.

Good Luck to the OP.:heartbeat

Deb123j · Jun 15, 2008

i don't have a problem with taking care of pts in isolation (i believe in my original post i stated such), however i do have a problem taking care of a pt who has vre, since my ob specifically said not to, due to the harm that it can do to my baby. i have taken care of pts with mrsa, c-diff, hiv, hep, or whatever...no problem. my concern was what harm could possibly come to my baby having taken care of a pt with vre. apparently there is some danger to a fetus, whether or not you practice perfect isolation precautions. i will just speak with my ob when i see him later next week.

thanks for all of your replies!

LovingNurse, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2008

Hope you get some reassuring news from your OB. I was done having kids when I entered the nursing field, and I think God timed it that way because I'm so paranoid - I would have been horrible to be around! We can't help but worry about the health of our precious babies - just part of being a parent. Get some extra rest, take care of yourself, and let us know what your OB says.

:flwrhrts:

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jun 15, 2008

Our health region has a "significant organism" isolation protocol for drug-resistant organisms. It includes single-patient room with door closed, mask-gown-gloves PPE for all who enter the room, single use or dedicated equipment and of course handwashing. We also have a surveillance program that requires all patients on the unit at the same time as a patient with either VRE of MRSA be swabbed weekly for six weeks or the duration of their hospitalization, whichever comes first. To have the "VRE-Positive" status removed and isolation discontinued, patients have to have three consecutive negative weekly swabs. We don't distinguish between pregnant and non-pregnant nurses for any infectious agent, even CMV, because it is expected that our isolation practices are followed to the letter. If one thinks about the modes of transmission and protects oneself appropriately the risk is VERY low. The mode of transmission in VRE is direct contact with colonized or infected body parts, most notably the lady parts, perineum and orifice. Gloves? Of course!! Handwashing? Naturally. Risk? Minimal if proper technique is used! The only nurses who would be exempt from caring for isolated patients are those on immunosuppressive treatment for cancer, lupus or organ transplant.