What is a characteristic of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE)?

The characteristic that Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) cannot be controlled with antibiotics is significant, as VRE are known for their resistance to vancomycin, a common antibiotic used to treat Enterococcus infections. This resistance makes infections caused by VRE difficult to treat, as they often require more potent, less commonly used antibiotics, which may not always be effective or available. The ability of VRE to survive treatment with standard antibiotics is a critical concern in healthcare settings, leading to higher rates of morbidity and mortality associated with infections.

Understanding the nature of VRE is important. These bacteria are not Gram-negative bacilli; they are Gram-positive cocci. They can spread easily, especially in environments like hospitals where they can be transmitted from patient to patient, which contradicts the idea that they do not spread between individuals. Additionally, they are not easily treated with common antibiotics, as highlighted by their resistance profile, making the correct assertion that conventional antibiotics are ineffective in managing these infections.