Dangerous AER germs in German hospitals

Detection of VRE germs on the pediatric intensive care unit

07/04/2015

According to media reports on the detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) at the Florence Nightingale Hospital in Kaiserswerth, the hospital has announced a press conference for Tuesday afternoon to provide more detailed information. The health department is already informed about the incident.

According to recent reports, the VRE germ has been detected at the pediatric intensive care unit of the hospital in Kaiserswerth, where several infants have been infected with the virus. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the „Hospital-grade enterococci due to their insensitivity to various environmental factors and their broad spectrum of natural and acquired antibiotic resistance“ a special problem.

VRE germs pose a significant risk to debilitated patients
In general, according to the RKI, infections with AER germs are usually restricted to certain wards of a hospital. The pathogens represent a significant risk for critically ill, already weakened patients. In this context, the increased occurrence of AER in German hospitals is particularly worrying.

Security measures initiated
The head of the children's intensive care unit, Dr. med. Martin Berghäuser, told the „image“-Newspaper that so-called barrier measures were introduced in the Florence Nightingale hospital. „Affected children were isolated and relocated by other patients“, so mountain houses. In addition, the parents would have to wear protective clothing and disinfect their hands when visiting. The condition of the infected children has already stabilized again. (Fp)

Picture: Urs Mücke