Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) Sterile Processing Technician Practice Exam

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is known to be a robust pathogen with the ability to persist on surfaces, including human skin. On the hands, VRE can survive for several hours. This duration can be attributed to the bacteria's ability to withstand various environmental conditions, allowing it to remain viable and potentially infectious for extended periods. Understanding this survival time is crucial for infection control, especially in healthcare settings where hand hygiene plays a significant role in preventing the spread of infections. Thus, the correct answer reflects the knowledge of VRE's resilience and highlights the critical importance of thorough hand hygiene practices in controlling its transmission.