Infection with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteria

By Cristiano Antonino On Jun 11, 2022

Infection with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteria does not usually affect healthy people: this type of infection mainly affects immunocompromised individuals who are in hospital settings (such as in-patients and especially long-term patients), individuals who are subjected to the insertion of medical devices such as intravenous and urinary catheters, and hospitalised patients with major injuries or who have undergone surgery

Symptoms and diseases associated with infection with carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacteria

The symptoms and diseases that may accompany carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacteria infections are quite similar to those that characterise Enterobacter infections.

They may include:

presence of systemic inflammation (with accelerated heart rate and respiratory rate and a temperature above 38° C or below 36° C)
fever
lower respiratory tract infections
skin and soft tissue infections
urinary tract infections
endocarditis
septic arthritis
central nervous system infections
ophthalmic infections
hypotension
haemorrhagic boils, cyanosis, blistering
septic shock (manifests as disseminated intravascular coagulation, jaundice, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and other complications)

What are carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteria?

Carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacteria are a specific subgroup of Enterobacteria that are particularly difficult to treat because – as their name suggests – they are resistant to carbapenems, a type of antibiotic frequently used to treat serious infections.

Since carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacteria are also often resistant to all (or almost all) currently available antibiotics, this subgroup of bacteria poses a major threat to public health.

Cures and treatments

Since carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacteria are often resistant to most commonly prescribed antibiotics, treatment decisions for this type of infection must be made on a case-by-case basis by a specialised healthcare professional.

Some people may be colonised, but not infected, with this type of bacteria and therefore not need any treatment.