Patient and Family Education
Control of Drug-Resistant
Organisms on the Rehab Unit
What are drug-resistant organisms?
Drug-resistant organisms are germs (bacteria) that do not respond to
commonly used medicines called antibiotics. They are sometimes called
Multi-Drug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs). Infections with these bacteria
can be hard to treat. The bacteria can be passed from person to person.
What are some examples of drug-resistant bacteria?
There are many different kinds of drug-resistant bacteria. This table describes
some of the MDROs seen at Seattle Children’s:
Organism name
Description
Vancomycin-Resistant
Enterococcus (VRE)
Enterococcus is a bacteria normally found in your
intestines (gastrointestinal tract). When it can’t be
treated with the antibiotic vancomycin, it is called
VRE. VRE can be treated with other types of
antibiotics.
Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus
(MRSA)
Stapyhlycoccus aureus is a bacteria normally
found on your skin or in your nose and throat.
When it can’t be treated with penicillin-based
antibiotics like methicillin, it is called MRSA.
MRSA infections can be treated with other types
of antibiotics.
Extended-Spectrum
Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs)
ESBLs are enzymes that can be carried by the
bacteria Enterobacteriaceae. The enzymes break
down certain antibiotics, making them less
effective. E. coli is an example of an
Enterobacteriaceae and is normally found in your
intestines. There are a few antibiotics effective
against ESBLs, but choices are more limited.
Carbapanem-Resistant
Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)
Carbapenem antibiotics are effective against most
types of bacteria. When Enterobacteriaceae
develop resistance to carbapenem antibiotics, they
are called CRE. CRE are resistant to most
antibiotics and they are very hard to treat.
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Control of Drug-Resistant on Rehab Unit
How did you find out my child has one of these bacteria?
In the hospital, lab tests are often done to find out if patients have infections.
MDROs are becoming more common, so we have more patients who test
positive for these bacteria. Your child’s care provider may request a test at any
time if there is a concern that your child has one of these bacteria.
How are MDROs treated?
Some people with a MDRO will have the bacteria in their body without
getting an infection. These people are said to be colonized with MDRO and
they do not need to be treated with antibiotics. If the MDRO is causing an
infection, there are a few options for treatment that your child’s doctor will
discuss with you.
What steps does Seattle Children’s take to prevent
spread of MDROs?
Because they are hard to treat, Seattle Children’s takes special precautions
to avoid spreading MDROs to other patients in the hospital. For this reason,
a child who has a MDRO is placed in Contact Isolation.
What can I do to prevent the spread of MDROs?
• Always wash your hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer before
and after using public areas such as restrooms, the gift shop, or the cafeteria.
• Wash well before eating food, touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and
after touching surfaces in your child’s hospital room such as bed rails,
bedside tables, doorknobs, remote controls and phones.
• Please try to avoid touching other people and shared surfaces when away
from your child’s room.
• It’s especially important to clean your hands well after changing your
child’s diaper or helping your child with the toilet.
What does this mean when my child is on the Rehab Unit?
• Therapies may take place in your child’s hospital room or defined areas on
the unit or therapy gym.
• Staff will clean any surfaces that your child touches, like therapy mats or
equipment before and after use.
• Staff will offer reminders, when needed, to follow precautions.
Guidelines for you and your child
• Parents and caregivers are not asked to wear gowns and gloves because of
your unique interaction and exposure history with your child. You should,
however, clean your hands well when going in and out of your child’s room,
and before using public areas such as restrooms, the gift shop and the
cafeteria.
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Control of Drug-Resistant on Rehab Unit
To Learn More
• Ask your child’s
healthcare provider
• Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) Web
site www.cdc.gov
• www.seattlechildrens.org
Free Interpreter
Services
• In the hospital, ask
your child’s nurse.
• From outside the
hospital, call the
toll-free Family
Interpreting Line
1-866-583-1527.
Tell the interpreter
the name or extension
you need.
• Your child may leave the room for specific and direct purposes
o For example: to therapy gym or to go outside, as long they avoid
touching other people and shared surfaces.
o They must have a staff or family member with them at all times to help
clean surfaces and prevent any direct contact.
o Your child should not visit areas in the hospital that are shared with
other patients, such as the cafeteria, public restrooms, gift shop and
other patient units.
o Change your child into clean clothes before leaving the room for the day.
• Your child may eat meals out of their room or in the day room (the staff
will assist with providing a single table), but please do not take your child to
the cafeteria.
• Food brought into your room cannot be returned to the refrigerator.
• Please ask the nursing staff for help when you need linens, food or your
drink and food warmed.
• You must use bleach if you wash clothes in the laundry room on the Rehab
Unit.
What about visitors?
Only close family or primary caregivers should visit while your child is in
isolation. Children under 10 years old may not visit. If special arrangements
are made to have visitors such as neighbors and extended family, they need to
wear gowns and gloves when entering your child’s hospital room. They also
need to clean their hands well when entering and leaving the room. Sick or
immune-suppressed people should not visit the hospital.
What about clinic and emergency department visits?
The type of care your child gets in the clinics and the emergency department
(ED) is different from hospital care. This means clinic and ED staff will wear
gloves but may not need to wear gowns when seeing your child.
• We will try to get your child into the exam room as soon as possible so they
have less contact with others in the waiting room.
• For the safety of other patients, we ask that your child not use the waiting
room play areas during your visit. Ask the front desk for coloring pages
while you wait.
Seattle Children’s offers interpreter services for Deaf, hard of hearing or non-English speaking patients, family members and
legal representatives free of charge. Seattle Children’s will make this information available in alternate formats upon request.
Call the Family Resource Center at 206-987-2201.
This handout has been reviewed by clinical staff at Seattle Children’s. However, your child’s needs are unique. Before you act
or rely upon this information, please talk with your child’s healthcare provider.
© 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013 - 2015 Seattle Children’s, Seattle, Washington. All rights reserved.
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