Improvement of prevention of VRE transmission in hospitals by optimalisation detection methods

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) is a multi-resistant bacterium, capable of causing outbreaks in hospitals. To prevent outbreaks, VRE-positive patients and their contacts must be isolated, causing lower quality of care/increased costs. Isolation measures should thus be as short as possible. However, little is known regarding the best screening protocol to detect VRE-positive (isolation indicated) and VRE-negative (no isolation) patients.

Approach/working method

This project aims to determine the best VRE screening protocol based on data from Dutch hospitals, concerning the number of swabs and the effect of antibiotic use on VRE-detection in patients. Moreover, we will investigate the utility of hospital sewage for VRE-screening. 

(Expected) results

Taken together, the information will lead to a screening algorithm for quick identification of VRE-positive patients. Finally, we will develop a toolbox with PCRs specific against the most prevalent outbreak-clones of VRE, ready to deploy quickly during outbreaks.