What Is Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus?
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) is a bacterial infection which can be dangerous for people with compromised immune systems, such as the elderly, cancer patients, and people who have recently undergone surgery. The bulk of VRE infections are nosocomial, acquired in a hospital environment, although people can pick the bacteria up elsewhere. Treatment for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus involves culturing bacteria from the site of the infection in the lab and testing the culture with several antibiotics to find one which will be effective.
