The VRE medical abbreviation stands for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus, or in the plural vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Enterococci are bacteria that normally live in the intestines, and VRE are strains that the antibiotic vancomycin no longer kills.
People usually come across VRE on a hospital screening result, an isolation sign, a lab report or a transfer form between a hospital and a nursing home. Many people who carry VRE are not sick from it. Below are the meaning of the letters, the difference between carrying the germ and being infected, the way results are written and the reason staff wear gowns and gloves.
At a glance
Stands for
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus or enterococciUsual species
Enterococcus faecium, less often E. faecalisWhere it lives
Mostly the gut, sometimes skin, urine or woundsWhere you see it
Lab results, isolation signs, problem lists, transfer formsGroup
One type of MDRODo not confuse with
VRSA, the much rarer vancomycin-resistant staphSpecialty
Infectious disease, infection prevention
What the VRE medical abbreviation means
Enterococci are common bacteria in the human gut and are usually harmless there. They can, however, cause infections of the urinary tract, the bloodstream, the heart valves, wounds and the abdomen, especially in people who are already ill or have devices such as urinary catheters or central lines.
Vancomycin is an antibiotic often used for serious infections caused by enterococci and other gram-positive bacteria. When an enterococcus picks up genes that let it survive vancomycin, labs report it as VRE. The label tells clinicians to choose a different antibiotic if treatment is needed.
Breaking down the name
| Letter | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| V | Vancomycin | The antibiotic the germ resists |
| R | Resistant | Not killed by that drug at usual levels |
| E | Enterococcus | From entero, meaning intestine, and coccus, a round bacterium |
The same entero root appears in words like gastroenteritis, which refers to inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
Colonization versus infection with VRE
Most people with VRE are colonized, meaning the germ lives in the gut without causing symptoms. A rectal swab or stool test done as part of hospital screening may be the only way it is found. Colonization usually does not need antibiotic treatment.
Infection means VRE is causing illness, such as a urinary infection or a bloodstream infection. In that case doctors choose antibiotics that still work, such as linezolid or daptomycin, guided by lab testing.
On a lab report: "Urine culture: >100,000 CFU/mL Enterococcus faecium, vancomycin R." The R means resistant, so this is VRE in the urine. Whether it is a true infection depends on symptoms and the clinical picture.
Why staff use contact precautions
VRE spreads mainly by touch, through hands and surfaces such as bed rails, call buttons and toilets. Many hospitals place patients with VRE on contact precautions, which means hand cleaning on entry and exit and, depending on local policy, gowns and gloves for staff. Some facilities have relaxed these rules for VRE in certain settings, so practice varies from place to place.
The goal is to shield other patients, many of whom are already ill. The ISO entry explains how isolation is noted in charts.
VRE among other resistant germs
VRE is one member of the larger group of multidrug-resistant organisms. It is often listed alongside MRSA, a resistant staph, and gram-negative germs such as ESBL producers and CRE. Each has its own lab test and its own set of drugs that still work, which is why charts name the exact organism rather than only writing MDRO.
The diagnosis list covers the other resistant germs and many more conditions.
Things families commonly want to know about VRE
- Is the VRE causing an infection, or was it found on a screening swab?
- What precautions should visitors follow?
- Will the precautions continue at a rehab center or nursing home?
- How should we clean hands and shared items at home?
Results like VRE are best explained by the care team who ordered the test. Ask your nurse, doctor or the infection prevention team how the result affects your care and which precautions to follow.
Frequently asked questions
What does VRE mean in medical terms?
VRE means vancomycin-resistant enterococcus, a type of gut bacterium that the antibiotic vancomycin does not kill. It is one of the resistant germs hospitals track closely.
Is VRE contagious?
Yes, it can pass between people, usually on hands or on items such as bed rails and toilets. Careful handwashing and isolation steps help keep it from spreading.
Does having VRE mean I am sick?
Not necessarily. Many people are colonized, meaning they carry VRE in the gut without illness. Treatment is usually only needed when it causes an infection.
How is VRE found?
It is found by lab testing, either from a screening swab or stool sample, or from a culture of urine, blood or a wound during an illness.
Are VRE and MRSA the same germ?
They are different. MRSA is a resistant staph bacterium, while VRE is a resistant enterococcus. Both are multidrug-resistant organisms, but they are different germs treated with different drugs.