Stopping the spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

The emergence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) has become a nationwide concern. Both the lack of available antimicrobial agents for therapy and the possibility for the transfer of vancomycin-resistant genes in VRE to other gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, necessitate the coordinated efforts of all hospital patient care departments to control the spread of VRE. Microbiology and infection control departments are the first lines of defense against the organism and should participate in the education of all patient care providers in control and…