TDH closes Medical B unit due to VRE cluster

Due to the ongoing issue of Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) at Timmins and District Hospital, they have decided to close off their Medical B unit to all visitors until further notice.

TDH says all other units of the hospital are running as usual, but they do advise that you wash your hands entering and leaving the hospital, and before and after visiting a patient.

The public is reminded that all individuals with cold, flu or gastro-like symptoms (cough, fever, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) are not to visit any patients at the Hospital.

TDH had issued a release in late-October, warning of VRE being contracted by patients in the Medical B unit.

“Enterococcus is a bacteria that lives in most people’s bowels,” TDH said then, “Vancomycin resistant enterococcus is the same bacteria, but it is a strain that has developed resistance to many commonly used antibiotics, specifically an antibiotic called vancomycin.”

“When a person has an infection with VRE it can be difficult to treat because the usual antibiotics cannot get rid of it.”