Download glycopeptide resistant enterococci (GRE) info for patients

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Glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE)
Information for patients, relatives, carers and
visitors
Customer care
Please send any comments about
Medway Community Healthcare
services to: Customer care coordinator
Medway Community Healthcare
MCH House, Bailey Drive,
Gillingham, Kent, ME8 0PZ
t: 01634 334650
[email protected]
All contact will be treated
confidentially
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Who to contact
Infection prevention and control
team
t: 01634 334635
MCH House, Bailey Drive,
Gillingham, Kent ME8 0PZ
[email protected]
This information can be made
available in other formats and
languages. Please contact:
[email protected]
Ref: MCH 419
Medway Community Healthcare CIC providing services on behalf of the NHS
Registered office: MCH House, Bailey Drive, Gillingham, Kent ME8 0PZ
Tel: 01634 337593
Registered in England and Wales, Company number: 07275637
www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk
Information
What is GRE?
Glycopeptide-resistant
Enterococci (GRE) are bacteria
that live in the bowel or gut.
There are many different
species of enterococci but only a
few have the potential to cause
infection in humans.
These enterococci have become
resistant to a group of antibiotics
known as glycopeptides.
Examples of glycopeptides are
Vancomycin (VRE) and
Teicoplanin.
Can GRE be harmful?
For most patients Enterococci
bacteria live in our bowel or gut
and sometimes on our skin,
usually without causing
problems. However sometimes
these organisms can get into
different areas of the body
where infections may occur.
These sites include the urinary
tract, kidney infections and
wounds.
Doctors need to know as soon
as possible if a patient is
carrying GRE so that the most
effective antibiotics can be
chosen to treat the infection.
As GRE live in your bowel a
swab may be taken from your
bottom or from around your
stoma to detect the organism.
How do people get GRE?
Patients who have already taken
lots of antibiotics are more at risk of
picking up GRE. The reason for this
is that the bugs are more exposed to
antibiotics, and are therefore more
likely to develop ‘resistance’ to that
antibiotic, so that the antibiotic no
longer works.
Can GRE be spread to other
people?
GRE/VRE can be carried by
patients, healthcare staff or visitors,
either harmlessly (colonised) or if
they are infected with it. It can
spread between patients through
direct contact with each other or by
touching items or surfaces that the
person with GRE may have touched,
such as bed rails, toilets or
equipment. As patients in hospital
are much more vulnerable to
infection than patients in their own
homes, special precautions are
required to prevent the spread.
If you have a positive test result for
GRE you will be transferred into a
single room. This is to minimalize
the transmission to other patients on
the ward.
All healthcare staff will take
precautions to prevent the
spread of the bacteria to
other patients by using
disposable gloves and
aprons when they attend
you. Hand washing is very
important in reducing the
spread.
Can GRE infections be
treated?
Your body may clear GRE from
the bowel as you recover, but
this is not always the case, they
may remain in the bowel for
some time. Taking antibiotics
again can encourage the
infection to grow in the bowel, so
they should only be taken for a
very good reason.
Antibiotics are available to treat
GRE infection however the
bacteria may still be present in
the bowel but may not cause
any symptoms. You may be a
‘carrier’ of the bacteria.
Can I have visitors?
Yes. If visitors are helping out
with your personal care they
should wear gloves and
aprons and thoroughly wash
their hands before and after
visiting you or use the alcohol
gel. This will help to reduce the
potential spread of the
bacteria. If visitors are coming
to see you in hospital it is
encouraged that they do not
sit on the bed. Visitors should
be kept to a minimum and the
very young or elderly should
refrain from visiting until you
are better.
Discharge Information
It is important to tell the
healthcare staff that you have
tested positive for GRE if you
are ever admitted to hospital
again so that they can take
measures to prevent it spreading
to other patients.
You also need to inform your
GP so that appropriate
antibiotics can be prescribed (if
necessary).
Your discharge should not
be delayed if you are
carrying the bacteria and
you can go home once your
doctor says you are ready.