Point prevalence survey of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in adult inpatients in a University teaching hospital in the United Kingdom

Publication date: Available online 30 June 2018Source: Journal of Hospital InfectionAuthor(s): Hayley J. Wilson, Fahad Khokhar, David A. Enoch, Nicholas M. Brown, Jag Ahluwalia, Gordon Dougan, M. Estée TörökSummaryInfections with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, but the carriage rates of CRE and VRE among hospital inpatients is unknown. We conducted a point-prevalence survey to determine CPE and VRE carriage rates in hospitalised adults. 818/960 (85.2%) adult inpatients were invited to participate in the study. 595/818 (72.7%) consented and provided specimens. Of 540 samples tested, none were positive for CPE. 130/540 (24.1%) samples were VRE positive; 34/40 (85%) of wards had cases. Universal screening for CPE may not be cost-effective in low-prevalence settings, but targeted screening of high-risk patients should continue. The optimal screening strategy for VRE remains to be determined, as universal screening and isolation is not feasible in our setting.
Source: Journal of Hospital Infection - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research