MRSA and VRE Rates
To review the Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital's Infection rates, please click here.
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that has developed a resistance to the antibiotics that were once commonly prescribed to kill it. Many healthy people have these bacteria on their body (most commonly in their nose) not causing harm which is called colonization. When a person has the bacteria in their urine, or in any other site that should be sterile (e.g. lung, blood )this is called an infection.
MRSA can be spread to other people by close contact between colonized or infected persons or the bacteria can be picked up in the environment and transferred to a person. To prevent the spread of these bacteria, a person who is colonized or infected with MRSA is placed under isolation precautions and all who care for that patient including the patient themselves must practice excellent hand hygiene either with soap and water or alcohol hand rub.
VRE or Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus
Enterococci are bacteria found normally in the intestinal tract. When vancomycin (an antibiotic) is unable to kill these bacteria, the bacteria is called VRE.
VRE can survive on hard surfaces for many days and on hands for hours. Good hand hygiene with soap and water or with alcohol hand rub is the best way to stop the spread of VRE.
Download a Fact Sheet on C. difficile from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. (.pdf)
