Those headed to Timmins and District Hospital are advised to take precautions after a number of patients on Medical B unit were identified to have Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE).

“Enterococcus is a bacteria that lives in most people’s bowels,” TDH says, “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.”

So with the amount of cases within the unit, the hospital wants the public to be advised to do the following:

  • All visitors to all units will be required to wash their hands upon entering and leaving the Hospital and before and after visiting patients at the Hospital
  • If visiting a patient on additional precautions, please follow the sign posted on the door.
  • All individuals with cold, flu, or gastro-like symptoms (cough, fever, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) are not to visit any patients in the Hospital

We will provide updates to this when updates are available.

Filed under: Local News