Infection Control Resources to Safeguard Patients from Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci and Other Pathogens

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) describes enterococci as part of the normal flora in the intestinal tract and also a common cause of nosocomial infections. The bacteria can also often found in the natural environment, in soil and water.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns these bacteria are constantly finding new ways to avoid the effects of the antibiotics used to treat those infections. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is the name for the bacteria resistant to the antibiotic known as vancomycin.

When the CDC released the 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States report, VRE was listed as a serious threat. In the report, VRE was said to have caused an estimated 54,500 infections among hospitalized patients and 5,400 estimated deaths in the United States in 2017 alone.

Some of the patients listed by CDC as being at high risk for VRE infections include those undergoing complex or prolonged healthcare, such as patients in long-term acute care hospitals or ICUs. Patients undergoing cancer treatment or those with organ transplants, and having a weakened immune system, were also listed.

“NYSDOH cautioned years ago that VRE is endemic in many hospitals in the state,” said Frank Selamie, President of CTSI. “VRE can spread in healthcare settings from one person to another through contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment, or through person to person spread, often via contaminated hands. Infection control programs that test equipment and surfaces for VRE and other pathogens to assess the effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection procedures can help to significantly reduce infections.”

To support infection control programs, CTSI offers buildings assessments, testing, monitoring, consulting, and training services to identify and mitigate exposure risks to VRE and other microbial pathogens. They also recently sponsored an educational video about VRE in healthcare settings that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/plFsurehAJ0

To learn more about this or other infection control, industrial hygiene, environmental, health, and safety services, please visit www.ctsiweb.com, email contactus@ctsiweb.com, or call (212) 971-7016.

About CTSI
Established in 1992, Consulting & Testing Services, Inc. (CTSI) was founded on one strong commitment: to provide efficient and expert services to clients based on professionalism, innovation, and cost-effective expert solutions. This commitment has been furthered with CTSI’s reputation in fostering client relationships in all sectors of the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Construction industries. CTSI prides itself in utilizing a high quality service based on its diverse team of staff and professionals’ concise recommendations and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas. The company operates offices in New York and Florida that service clients across the United States.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail