Antimicrobial Resistant Organisms

Sometimes bacteria can develop the ability to no longer be destroyed by antibiotics. When this happens, the bacteria (organisms) are called ‘resistant’ to antibiotics and are known as Antimicrobial Resistant Organisms (AROs). These organisms are spread by direct contact such as touching contaminated items from an infected person, or directly from an infected person to another. The best way to prevent the spread of an ARO is to practice good hand hygiene.

Nova Scotia Health screens all admitted acute care patients to see if they are at risk for an ARO. For some patients, this means swabs are taken to determine if they carry an ARO. Patients who are found to have an ARO have special precautions taken to stop the spread to other patients.

Links

Antimicrobial Resistant Organisms Policy

Provincial Microbiology User’s Manual

Antimicrobial Stewardship

Patient and Family Guide: VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus)

Patient and Family Guide- MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)

Patient and Family Guide- Why We Screen for Antibiotic-resistant Organisms (AROs)

Patient and Family Guide- CPE (Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae)