Carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae neonatal gut colonization: A future concern in healthcare settings

Authors : Debapriya Das Choudhury, N P Singh, Sumit Rai, Prerna Batra, Vikas Manchanda

DOI : 10.18231/2394-5478.2018.0073

Volume : 5

Issue : 3

Year : 0

Page No : 348-354

Introduction: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) isolates are resistant to carbapenem and other beta-lactam drugs. Infections with these CREs have been reported in different age groups and are difficult to treat because of their resistant pattern and thus, they have become epidemiologically important.
Materials and Methods: Rectal swabs from 150 term/ late preterm neonates (> 35 weeks) and 150 preterm neonates (< 35> 3 days. Three rectal swabs were taken; 1st within 24hrs of birth (day 0), 2nd on day 3 and 3rd before discharge (day 4-10). They were screened for CRE in stool/rectal swab according to CDC criteria. These were further confirmed by following CLSI guidelines (MHT) to observe the carbapenemases production and real-time PCR for blaNDM-1, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaKPC.
Results: A total of 8.7% (26/300) possible CREs were isolated in term/late preterm (15/26, 57.7%) and preterm neonates (11/26, 42.3%). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the commonest organism. In total, 22/26 (84.6%) possible CREs were MHT positive and rest 4 were MHT negative. The majority of MHT positive CREs were multidrug-resistant whereas MHT negative CREs was sensitive to tested carbapenem drugs. Carbapenemases genes (blaNDM-1=10, blaVIM=8, blaIMP=1, blaKPC=0) were identified in 19/26 of possible CREs, but multiple carbapenemases genes were not found.
Conclusions: In this study, neonates were colonized with CRE within their gut as early as 72 hours after birth. This can cause infection in the postnatal period and may lead to spread of CRE in the community.

Keywords: Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Neonatal Intensive care Unit, Modified Hodge Test.


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