title: Controlling the spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci with a rehabilitation cohort unit.
abstract: Enterococci are common to the human gastrointestinal tract. Recently there has been an emergence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE); infection requires strict contact isolation. Patients with VRE infections are at higher risk for morbidity and mortality. As a result of the high prevalence of VRE, it was recommended that a cohort unit be established to control its spread within our metropolitan community hospital. We report the development of a rehabilitation VRE cohort unit. We present case studies of five patients who developed nosocomial colonization and one with an infection with VRE; all were treated on the rehabilitation cohort unit. Protocols for VRE isolation and procedures for decontamination in the cohort unit were developed. If a cohort unit is necessary, it is feasible to conduct a rehabilitation program in a cohort unit with strict adherence to contact isolation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46256, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Duerden
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Braddom
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010356:Patient Isolation; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014640:Vancomycin