title: Interventional strategies and current clinical experience with carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria.
abstract: The wide dissemination of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negatives (CPGNs), including enterobacterial species and non-fermenters, has caused a public health crisis of global dimensions. These organisms cause serious infections in hospitalized patients, and are associated with increased mortality. Cross-transmission is common, and outbreaks may occur in healthcare facilities where the infection control practices are inadequate. CPGNs exhibit extensive drug-resistant phenotypes, complicate therapy, and limit treatment options. Systematic data on therapy are limited. However, regimens combining two or more active agents seem to be more efficacious than monotherapy in carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae infections. Strict infection control measures, including active surveillance for timely detection of colonized patients, separation of carriers from non-carriers, and contact precautions, are of utmost importance, and may be the only effective way of preventing the introduction and transmission of these bacteria in healthcare settings.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. makova@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akova
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Daikos
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tzouvelekis
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Carmeli
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002353:Carrier State / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015780:Carbapenems; D001618:beta-Lactamases; C063912:carbapenemase