A nurse manager is teaching a group of newly licensed nurses about vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections. Which of the following information should the nurse manager include in the teaching?

A. "VRE is transmitted through the air by coughing and sneezing.": VRE is not airborne; it spreads primarily through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or hands of healthcare workers. Airborne precautions are not required for this organism. B. "VRE infection requires health care workers to wear an N95 respirator.": N95 respirators are required for airborne pathogens such as tuberculosis, not for VRE. Contact precautions, including gloves and gowns, are used for preventing transmission of VRE. C. "VRE infection is treated with vancomycin antibiotics.": Vancomycin-resistant enterococci are resistant to vancomycin by definition, so other antibiotics such as linezolid or daptomycin are used instead. Treating with vancomycin would be ineffective. D. "VRE is a common cause of health care-associated infections.": VRE is a significant pathogen in healthcare settings, often causing bloodstream, urinary tract, and wound infections. It is considered a common cause of health care–associated infections due to its resistance and ease of spread.