An outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in a hematology-oncology unit: control by patient cohorting and terminal cleaning of the environment.
We describe the impact of enhanced infection control interventions on controlling the spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in our hematology-oncology unit. Between April and September 1998, 13 patients on this unit were identified as having VRE. In addition to contact precautions, other measures that were needed to control the outbreak included closure of the unit to new admissions, creation of a cohort of VRE-positive patients and staff, and thorough cleaning of patients' rooms with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite.
Infection Control, The Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
Mary Lu
ML
Sample
Denise
D
Gravel
Cathy
C
Oxley
Baldwin
B
Toye
Gary
G
Garber
Karam
K
Ramotar
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D016983:Enterococcus; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010356:Patient Isolation; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance