Mid-Atlantic Infection Control Professionals Help Healthcare Facilities Battle VRE

Dec. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- As healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) receive increased attention by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the national media, healthcare facilities are under increased pressure to prevent their spread.  Many of the national media reports have focused on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. diff), but many other pathogens are also associated with HAIs.

One such microorganism is Enterococci. These bacteria, that are often present in the human intestines and female genital tract, are also often found in the environment. Although they may be a common part of the bacterial mix that is often found in and on parts of the human body, they can however, sometimes cause serious infections.

Vancomycin is an antibiotic that is used to treat some drug-resistant infections caused by Enterococci. In some instances, Enterococci have become resistant to this drug and are thus called Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci. Many of these VRE infections occur in hospitals and other healthcare environments.  These may appear in the urinary tract, the bloodstream, or in wounds associated with catheters or other surgical procedures.

“VRE is often passed from person to person by the contaminated hands of caregivers or by patients directly coming into contact with contaminated surfaces or medical instruments,” reported Susan White, Ph.D., CMC.  Dr. White is the President of Sussex Environmental Health Consultants (SEHC), a leading indoor air quality (IAQ) and environmental infectious disease prevention consulting firm serving the Mid-Atlantic region.  “Proactive monitoring of hygiene and disinfection procedures, as well as testing for VRE on indoor surfaces can help prevent outbreaks and infections.  Sampling can also help identify the source of an outbreak after one has occurred to prevent additional HAIs from happening,” she continued.

SEHC recently sponsored a public outreach video about VRE that can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6UqRJmjGqA



To learn more about SEHC’s environmental infectious disease prevention services or other IAQ, environmental, and health and safety services, please visit http://www.sussexenvironmental.com, email susan.white@mchsi.com or call (302) 947-1810.

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About Sussex Environmental Health Consultants, LLC
SEHC is a certified woman owned business that provides environmental and health and safety consulting services. The company is located in the Mid-Atlantic and services customers nationwide. SEHC provides solutions to clients ranging from homeowners to international Fortune 500 Corporations.