Addressing rising trends and outbreaks in carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae
Prevent the spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.
Enterobacteriaceae are a large family of bacteria that usually live harmlessly in the gut of all humans and animals, but, in the wrong place, can cause serious infections. Worldwide, a small but increasing number of strains of Enterobacteriaceae have become resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, which have been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as critically important antibiotics.
Inadequate measures to prevent and control transmission can have serious consequences for both patients; who may require more complex treatment to manage their infection; and hospitals in terms of ward closures and protracted patient stays.
This patient safety alert brings this significant infection prevention and control challenge to the attention of both NHS acute trusts and private hospitals providing NHS funded care. The alert signposts care providers to a toolkit developed by Public Health England (PHE) to support the NHS in both controlling existing transmission problems and preventing the further spread of infection.