VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCI

VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCI

Overview and Facts

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci are bacteria that have become immune or resistant to the antibiotics designed to kill them. These bacteria are commonly found in the intestines and genital tract, and most of the time, they don’t cause any harmful effects to people. But these bacteria can trigger infections, and once they do, it is treated using vancomycin.

It is quite common to be infected with VRE, an estimated 20,000 people in the U.S are reported to be infected with this disease each year, and less than 10% of people affected with VRE, unfortunately, die.

There is a higher percentage of you developing a VRE infection if you:

  • Were treated with vancomycin or other antibiotics for a longer time.
  • Had surgery in the abdomen or chest.
  • You used medical devices that are attached in your body for a long time, such as Urinary or IV catheters.
  • Have a weak immune system.
  • Stayed in the ICU or cancer or transplant wards.
  • Already have VRE growing inside your intestines.

Types and Symptoms

SYMPTOMS

Having Vancomycin-resistant enterococci may come with numerous symptoms, and sometimes it may not even be caused by VRE but by other infections. The time when you are infected and when you develop symptoms based on the site of infection varies.

Below is a list of symptoms the patient may undergo.

  • Bloodstream Infections. The patient may experience fever, a fast heart, and feel very sick. This syndrome is called sepsis. And in severe but rarely happening cases, the patient’s blood pressure may decline, causing shock.
  • Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). The patient may experience pain with urination, back pain, difficulty urinating, frequent urination, or fever.
  • This illness is quite uncommon and rarely ever happens. This causes the patient to have headaches, stiff neck, confusion, and fever.
  • Infected Wounds. The patient’s existing wounds may easily be infected and will be inflamed, with red and warm skin, soreness, swelling, and contain pus or pus drainage.

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

To fully declare that a person has Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, the doctor may do numerous tests before diagnosing the person.

Diagnostic tests may include the following:

  • Sample of the infected tissue will be taken from the infected wound.
  • A blood sample will be taken to detect sepsis or endocarditis.
  • Urine or sputum samples will be taken to identify UTI or pneumonia.

TREATMENTS

Since Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci are quite resistant to various antibiotics, many newer antibiotics are developed to address this. Despite this, there are situations where the medicines are used in combination with other antibiotics.

It is best to mention the kind of infection the VRE caused to help guide in selecting the treatment protocol, such as what the patient will use antibiotics.

The following are lists of antimicrobials used in successfully treating various VRE strains.

  • Quinuspristin-dalfopristin
  • Telavancin
  • Teioplanin
  • Oritavancin
  • Linezolid
  • Daptomycin

People who are infected with Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci need to be treated by medical caregivers; there has been no approved home remedy for VRE infections.

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