VRE Infection in Infants

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) occurs when the enterococci bacteria infects humans. Enterococci normally live in the intestinal tract and female genital tract of humans, and also in the environment. Vancomycin may be used to treat enterococci infections; but when the infections resist this medication, physicians refer to the infection as vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

Risk Factors

• Infants may be particularly susceptible to VRE infections because of their young immune systems. VRE may be passed to infants through skin contact with carriers of the bacteria, or it can be spread through contact with infected surfaces. Also, infants who stay in the hospital due to prematurity, or have had surgery, catheters or IVs, may have an increased risk of getting a VRE infection.

Significance

• According to the National Health Institutes, about one out of three infections that occur in intensive-care result from VRE infections. Infants who stay in the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) may be exposed to VRE through contact with medical equipment or through person-to-person contact. The longer an infant stays in the NICU, the greater the risk of contracting VRE.

Treatment

• Treatment for VRE involves the use of various antibiotics beside vancomycin. The Centers for Disease control explains that laboratory testing can indicate which antibiotics may be most successful in treating the infection. Infants with VRE will receive intravenous antibiotics in the hospital.

Prevention/Solution

• Insist that everyone wash his or her hands before touching the infant. Also, wearing gloves helps prevent VRE infections. Limit visitors who come in contact with infants in the NICU to reduce infection risk.

Outcome

• Infections may be treated successfully with antibiotics. However, infections may be fatal in some cases. Sick infants may not be able to fight off the infection even with the assistance of antibiotics.