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An Outbreak of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in a Hematology–Oncology Unit: Control by Patient Cohorting and Terminal Cleaning of the Environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Mary Lu Sample ,
Denise Gravel ,
Cathy Oxley ,
Baldwin Toye ,
Gary Garber  and
Karam Ramotar
Mary Lu Sample*
Affiliation:
The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Denise Gravel
Affiliation:
The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Cathy Oxley
Affiliation:
The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Baldwin Toye
Affiliation:
The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Gary Garber
Affiliation:
The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Karam Ramotar
Affiliation:
The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
*
Infection Control, The Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada
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Abstract

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.

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 23 , Issue 8 , August 2002 , pp. 468 - 470
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2002

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