Get CA PHD Caring For Patients With CRE In Acute-Care Facilities - Alameda County 2019-2024

Healthcare Facilities: Information about CRE. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are a serious threat to public health. Infections with CRE are difficult to treat and have been associated with mortality rates of up to 50% for hospitalized patients.

CRE colonization does NOT require antibiotic therapy, but CRE- colonized patients can still spread infection. Both CRE-colonized and CRE-infected patients should be isolated using contact precautions when they are admitted to hospital.

If considering discontinuing Contact Precautions based on the results of surveillance cultures, it is appropriate to wait for at least 3 to 6 months since last positive culture or screen.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water, especially before eating or preparing food, before and after changing wound dressings or bandages, after using the bathroom, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.

Wear a gown and gloves when caring for patients with CRE. Perform hand hygiene—use alcohol-based hand rub or wash hands with soap and water before and after contact with patient or their environment. Make sure labs immediately alert clinical and infection prevention staff when CRE are identified.

CRE can be spread from person to person through contact with an infected or colonised person. This is either directly from the hands of another person or indirectly from environmental surfaces or medical equipment that have become contaminated. It is not spread through the air or by coughing or sneezing.

Information from the National Library of Medicine [CRE is defined as presence of any Enterobacteriaceae with resistance to any of the carbapenems. VRE is defined as presence of Enterococcus species resistant to .]

How are CRE germs spread? CRE are usually spread person to person through contact with infected or colonized people, particularly contact with wounds or stool (poop). This contact can occur via the hands of healthcare workers, or through medical equipment and devices that have not been correctly cleaned.