Running head: VRE: INFORMATION 1
Mic242
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE): What to Know
Chamberlain University – College of Nursing
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE): What to Know
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci better known as VRE, are a group of bacteria labeled
as enterococci that are normally found in the intestines and the female genital tract. It can
however also be discovered in vegetation and surface water. Enterococci typically helps in
digestion and other gut metabolic pathways. They are gram-positive cocci that typically occur as
diplococci and constantly adapts. Enterococci are becoming resistant to many and in some cases
all standard therapies. VRE is when the enterococci are specifically resistant to an antibiotic
called vancomycin, which is typically used to treat aerobic gram-positive bacteria.
What is VRE and What Can it Do?
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus comes from a type of bacteria called
enterococcus/enterococci, more specifically enterococcus faecium. This type of bacteria has
developed resistance to many antibiotics, especially vancomycin. In general, enterococci are not
very harmful and live in our intestines and on our skin without causing any problems. However,
when an infection such as VRE infects the urinary tract, surgical wounds, or even the blood
stream it can be extremely difficult to treat and occasionally may be life threatening.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus can cause many types of infections such as sepsis,
pneumonia, endocarditis, and meningitis.
The most serious infection that VRE can cause is sepsis. Sepsis is a life-threatening
illness caused by how your body responds to an infection. This happens when your body’s
immune system goes into overdrive. Sepsis can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and even
Mic242
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE): What to Know
Chamberlain University – College of Nursing
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE): What to Know
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci better known as VRE, are a group of bacteria labeled
as enterococci that are normally found in the intestines and the female genital tract. It can
however also be discovered in vegetation and surface water. Enterococci typically helps in
digestion and other gut metabolic pathways. They are gram-positive cocci that typically occur as
diplococci and constantly adapts. Enterococci are becoming resistant to many and in some cases
all standard therapies. VRE is when the enterococci are specifically resistant to an antibiotic
called vancomycin, which is typically used to treat aerobic gram-positive bacteria.
What is VRE and What Can it Do?
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus comes from a type of bacteria called
enterococcus/enterococci, more specifically enterococcus faecium. This type of bacteria has
developed resistance to many antibiotics, especially vancomycin. In general, enterococci are not
very harmful and live in our intestines and on our skin without causing any problems. However,
when an infection such as VRE infects the urinary tract, surgical wounds, or even the blood
stream it can be extremely difficult to treat and occasionally may be life threatening.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus can cause many types of infections such as sepsis,
pneumonia, endocarditis, and meningitis.
The most serious infection that VRE can cause is sepsis. Sepsis is a life-threatening
illness caused by how your body responds to an infection. This happens when your body’s
immune system goes into overdrive. Sepsis can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and even
