Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are the family difficult to treat with high resistance rates to broad spectrum antibiotic. Patients, following up in long term care facilities are the most affected for CRE infections and colonisation. Carbapenem resistance rates are increasing despite all precautions and the infections caused with CRE goes on with high mortality. CRE surveillance is recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) related to characteristic of health care facilities; point prevalence or active surveillance. Mechanical ventilation, urinary or intravenous catheters, long term antibiotic usage are the main risk factor for CRE infections. Treatment options are limited with older agents and mainly depends on aminoglycosides, polymyxins and fosfomycin. In addition combination therapies and high dose regimens are the other salvage strategies. In this review, it is examined that the epidemiology, precaution strategies and treatment for CRE infections.