Point-prevalence survey of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and vancomycin-resistant enterococci in adult inpatients in a university teaching hospital in the UK. Issue 1 (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wilson, H.J.; Khokhar, F.; Enoch, D.A.; Brown, N.M.; Ahluwalia, J.; Dougan, G.; Török, M.E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hospital infection. Volume 100:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: CPE -- VRE -- Surveillance -- Carriage -- Prevalence; Cross infection -- Periodicals; Cross infection -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- prevention & control -- Periodicals; Infection Control -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.44
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.06.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6701

Abstract

Summary: Infections 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 are unknown. A point-prevalence survey was conducted to determine CPE and VRE carriage rates in hospitalized adults. Eight hundred and eighteen of 960 (85.2%) adult inpatients were invited to participate in the study. Of these, 595 patients (72.7%) consented and provided specimens. Of 540 samples tested, none were positive for CPE. One hundred and thirty of 540 (24.1%) samples were VRE positive, and 34 of 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 the study setting.