J Korean Med Sci.  2024 Feb;40(5):e11. 10.3346/jkms.2025.40.e11.

Effects of Cessation of Single-Room Isolation on Transmission of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus in a Hospital

• Kim SH
• Lee YJ
• Park JH
• Cheon S
• Ryu JS
• Shin JM
• Hong NS
• Jeong YR
• Jeon CH
• Wi YM

• KMID: 2565114
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2025.40.e11

Abstract

Background
Single room isolation with contact precautions is widely regarded as a fundamental strategy to prevent the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). However, its implementation demands substantial resources, limiting its universal application to all MDROs. In this study, we assessed the effect of discontinuing single room isolation for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE).
Methods
This is a retrospective, observational study conducted at a single 750-bed tertiary center. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis to compare incidence rates and trends of new-onset VRE colonization and bacteremia during the one year before and after the strategy change on January 1, 2023.
Results
Single-room occupancy decreased from 79.7% pre-intervention to 23.6% postintervention (P < 0.001). The incidence rate of new-onset VRE colonization was 0.452 and 0.535 per 1,000 patient-days in the pre- and post-intervention periods, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.202). However, there was a slightly increasing trend (0.036 [95% confidence interval, −0.002, 0.074] increase per month, P = 0.066). The new-onset VRE bacteremia incidence rate was not differed in incidence (0.060 and 0.055, P= 0.571) or trend (P = 0.720).
Conclusion
Our study suggests that discontinuing single-room isolation for VRE patients may not affect the incidence of new-onset VRE bacteremia, but caution is needed due to the potential increase in colonization.

Keyword

Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci; Patient Isolation; Infection Control; Hospital

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The incidence rates of (A) new-onset VRE colonization and (B) new-onset VRE bacteremia.VRE = vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.

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