Clinicians
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Infection
5 Steps Clinicians Should Take:
- Place patients currently or previously colonized or infected with CRE on Contact Precautions
- Wear a gown and gloves when caring for patients with CRE
- Perform hand hygiene – use alcohol-based hand rub or wash hand with soap and water before and after contact with patient or their environment
- Prescribe and use antibiotics wisely
- Discontinue devices like urinary catheters as soon as no longer necessary
Clinicians play a critical role in slowing the spread of CRE. Rapidly identifying patients colonized or infected with these organisms and placing them in Contact Precautions when appropriate, using antibiotics wisely, and minimizing device use are all important parts of preventing CRE transmission.
Tools
- 2012: CRE Toolkit Guidance for Control of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae
- Laboratory protocol: Multiplex Real-Time PCR Detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase and New Delhi metallo-β-Lactamse genes [PDF - 110 KB]
Frequently Asked Questions
CDC Expert Commentaries
- Outbreaks of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
- Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Infection: New Guidelines
- Preventing Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
- Carbapenem Resistance in the United States: What Should Clinicians Do?
- Outbreaks of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
- NDM - 1 - Making Resistant Bugs in New Ways
- Stopping the Hospital Spread of Gram-Negative Bacilli
More Resources
- Get Smart for Healthcare: Implementing and Improving Antibiotic Stewardship Efforts
- Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Containing New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase in Two Patients — Rhode Island, March 2012. MMWR June 22, 2012 / 61(24);446-448
- Update: Detection of a Verona Integron-Encoded Metallo-Beta-Lactamase in Klebsiella pneumoniae — United States, 2010. MMWR September 24, 2010 / 59(37);1212
- Detection of Enterobacteriaceae Isolates Carrying Metallo-Beta-Lactamase — United States, 2010. MMWR June 25, 2010 / 59(24);7503.
- Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae: Epidemiology and Prevention: CID July 2011
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