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CDC issues guidance to prevent CRE infections
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 16, 2012
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in June issued updated guidelines to help physicians and other health professionals prevent the spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, a deadly health care-associated infection known as CRE. CRE can cause a variety of medical problems such as urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections and pneumonia.
The spread of CRE has been documented nationwide and principally affects patients in acute and long-term care settings, the CDC said. Some of the preventive steps the CDC recommends include: prescribing antibiotics only when necessary, practicing hand hygiene, disinfecting rooms and medical equipment, wearing gloves and gowns before entering the room of a patient with CRE, and keeping patients with CRE in single-patient rooms.
Some CRE bacteria are especially antibiotic-resistant and contribute to death in 40% of the people infected, the CDC said. The complete guidelines are at the CDC’s website (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/07/16/prbf0716.htm.
