Enterococci are bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract (bowels) of most individuals and generally do not cause harm (this is termed "colonization"). Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are strains of enterococci that are resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin. If a person has an infection caused by VRE, such as a urinary tract infection or bloodstream infection, it may be more difficult to treat.
As of December 30, 2008, all hospitals are required to publicly report their Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus bloodstream infection rates on a quarterly basis.
The method for calculating the VRE bacteraemia rate is as follows:
Number of nosocomial patients with laboratory identification of MRSA bacteraemia x 1000
Total number of patient days
OSMH rates of VRE Bloodstream Infection are presented below:
| Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE)Bloodstream Infections |
| | 2008/2009 Fiscal Year | 2009/2010 Fiscal Year |
| | Dec-Mar | Apr-June | July-Sept | Oct-Dec | Jan-Mar |
| OSMH Acquired | 0 | 0 | 0 | | |
| Patient Days | 17.171 | 16549 | 16126 | | |
| OSMH Rate/1000 Patient Days | 0 | 0 | 0 | | |
| Provincial Rate/1000 Patient Days | N/A* |
N/A | 0.0 | | |
*Data not available at this time