Open AccessContamination of renal patients hospital chart covers with vancomycin resistant enterococci: Handle!with care
Author(s) -
Edward Zimbudzi,
Rhonda L. Stuart,
Tony M. Korman,
Despina Kotsanas
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the australasian medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1836-1935
DOI - 10.4066/amj.2011.726
Subject(s) - medicine , infection control , chart , vancomycin resistant enterococci , emergency medicine , vancomycin , intensive care medicine , staphylococcus aureus , statistics , mathematics , biology , bacteria , genetics
Vancomycin--resistant enterococci (VRE) have been increasingly associated with patients with renal failure attending large metropolitan teaching hospitals. Monash Medical Center has been following guidelines issued by the Department of Human Services to reduce the spread of VRE, but unfortunately this has had limited impact, especially in the renal unit. In an attempt to investigate the causes of the sustained VRE prevalence in the renal unit, this study sought to determine if renal patient chart covers were contaminated with VRE and if there was any genetic similarity to patient VRE isolates.