Vancomycin Intermediate staphylococcus aureus (VISA)

Last updated: 01 August 2005

What is Vancomycin Intermediate staphylococcus aureus?

Staphylococcus aureus are bacteria (germs) often simply called 'staph' or 'golden staph' that can live harmlessly on the skin and in the nose. It may cause infections on broken skin or wounds.

Vancomycin is an antibiotic often used to treat very serious infections.

VISA is a "staph" bacteria that has become resistant to, and cannot be destroyed by, vancomycin.

How can you tell if you have an infection?

The only way to tell if you have VISA is for your doctor to take a swab or samples from boils, wounds, or other sites of infection and send them to a laboratory for testing for VISA.

What is the difference between infection and colonisation?

VISA can cause "infection" or colonisation".

Infection means bacteria are in, or on, the body and are making you sick.

Colonisation means you have the bacteria in, or on, your body but you are not sick because of it and your hospital stay should not be increased. Colonised patients are sometimes given treatment to prevent infection developing.

Occasionally, people who are colonised with VISA may have their surgery postponed or be moved to a single room in the hospital. This is because both colonised and infected people can spread the bacteria to other patients.

Am I likely to get a VISA infection?

People most at risk of developing a VISA infection are those who have:

• been in hospital a long time
• been treated for MRSA infection with vancomycin
• dialysis, cardiac, surgical and intensive care patients.

If you have an infection that is not getting better with your antibiotic treatment you may not be on the right antibiotic for your infection. Your doctor may need to change your antibiotic. There is also a very small chance that you may have VISA.

How is VISA spread between patients?

The most common way VISA can be spread is touching someone who is colonised or infected. Touching a surface, such as a hospital bed or table, that has the bacteria on it can also spread VISA.

How can you prevent VISA from spreading?

Regular and thorough hand washing is one of the most successful ways to help stop the spread of VISA.

People with VISA should wash their hands regularly, particularly after going to the toilet.

Health workers treating you should wash their hands each time they enter and leave your room. This will kill the bacteria and stop it spreading to other patients. You should not hesitate to discuss the importance of good hand cleaning with any of the staff caring for you.

Health workers may also take further steps to help stop the spread of VISA between patients by:

• moving you to a single room in the hospital
• wearing a gown, or apron, and gloves if they are providing direct care.

Cleaning by housekeeping staff removes many bacteria that live on surfaces in your hospital room.

How is a VISA infection treated?

VISA is resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics. Patients with a VISA infection may need to be cared for by a specialist doctor so they get the right treatment and antibiotics.

Your doctor may order regular laboratory tests to check if you continue to have VISA during and after treatment.

How can I protect my family and friends from infection?

The staff will give your visitors specific advice about strict hand washing with water and liquid soap when they enter and leave your room. It is also important that they do not have any contact with your wounds or soiled bandages.

Exposure to someone with VISA should not harm healthy people, including pregnant women, children and babies.

What happens when I get home?

Thorough hand washing is essential for you and everyone else in the home. Normal household cleaning and laundry practices are sufficient.

When seeing new doctors or if you return to hospital it is important to tell health workers about any previous or current VISA infections or colonisations.

Where can I get further information?

Talk to your doctor or the nurses caring for you.