An outbreak of VRE has been called at the St. Catharines General Hospital Site.

The Niagara Health System has declared a unit outbreak of VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus) in C3 West/Mills 3Link.

An outbreak is declared when the number of hospital-associated cases is higher than what is seen as the normal threshold.

There have been nine cases in C3 West/Mills 3Link since August 7.

Three patients are currently in hospital.

All infection prevention and control measures are in place to control the spread of the infection and bring the outbreak to an end as quickly as possible.

Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus are germs that live in the gastrointestinal tract (bowels) of most people and generally do not cause harm.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are strains of enterococci that are resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin.

If a person has an infection caused by VRE, such as a urinary tract infection or blood infection, it may be more difficult to treat.