As students, it is important for you to be familiar with the requirement of these Exposure Control Plans. Enterococcus in a type of bacteria normally found in everyone's gastrointestinal tract. Vancomycin resistance means that this bacteria cannot be killed by most antibiotics. Colonization is a situation where bacteria are present but are not causing infection. There are no symptoms with colonization, and VRE can colonize perople for months to years.
Colonization usually precedes infection.
Infection with VRE occurs when the bacteria multiply, invade the body, and cause signs of infection such as fever, pus, or redness. People who are colonized or infected with VRE can spread it to other people. VRE can also be spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. Contact isolation is used for patients colonized or infected with VRE to prevent the spread of this bacteria. Two patients with VRE can share a room.