Carriage of multidrug-resistant carbapenemase-producing gram-negative bacteria in patients admitted to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde hospitals: Implications for treatment.

Background: Infections caused by gram-negative carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) have become a global phenomenon. Screening of patients for CPO that was carried out at 48-h intervals enables early detection of carriers for infection control purposes and planning therapy.

Methods: We investigated the bacterial flora detected on screening, the enzymes that conferred resistance and the proportion of patients who developed bacteraemia with CPO and their therapy.

Results: In all, 27 patients had a positive screen for CPO. A small but significant (7.5%) proportion of patients were not detected on initial screening. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella were predominant. New-Delhi metallo β-lactamase and oxacillin carbapenemases were the main enzymatic mechanisms of resistance. Four (14.8%) patients developed bacteraemia with CPO (30- and 90-day survival 100% and 75%, respectively).

Conclusion: A single negative screen does not rule out colonisation. A significant proportion of patients colonised with CPO develop bacteraemia. Vigilance is needed to prevent the nosocomial spread of CPO.