Carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are increasing.
Cause more than 9000 healthcare associated infections each year.
Dramatic increase in the number of CRE infections, with a more than five fold increase in community hospitals in the Southeast US from 2008-2012.
Carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae are difficult to treat gram-negative bacteria that frequently express a gene that encodes carbapenemase, an enzyme that breaks down Carbapenem and other antibiotics.
CRE most common types are carbapenem resistant Klebsiella species and Carbapenem resistant E.coli.
CRE are not susceptible to doripenem, meropenem or impenem, or two third-generation cephalosporins ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, and ceftazadine.
CRE are able to colonize individuals without infectious syndromes and are likely a pool of colonized individuals in medical facilities.
No infection control practices are in place to identify colonized individuals with CRE and therefore preventing transmission is not occurring.
Reported that 94% of CRE infections detected are health care facility associated (Thaden JT et al).
Up to 50% of patients with CRE bacteremia will die.
Patients at risk for carbapenem resistant infections include the elderly, debilitated, those with multiple co-morbidities and frequent healthcare institution admissions and invasive procedures.