Table 2. VRE-specific hygienic precautions in hospitals.

Stage	Measures
I – (extended) standard precautions	housing in multi-bed rooms consistent hand disinfection specific standard surface disinfection (following the list from VAH) wipe disinfection of near-patient objects disinfectant in bathrooms and washrooms information signs for hand hygiene/wipe disinfectant after toilet use use patient-dedicated equipment patient-dedicated gown and glove precautions: through direct patient contact through contact with infectious material
II – contact isolation precautions	stage I, plus organizational isolation (bed isolation and/or gown precautions, also for neighboring patients!) or spatial isolation (single room or cohort isolation)

VRE, vancomycin-resistant enterococci; VAH, Association for Applied Hygiene (Verbund für angewandte Hygiene)