title: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Irish critical care units: results of a pilot prevalence survey, June 2011.
abstract: The epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in Ireland is changing, with an increase in the number of reported cases in late 2010 and early 2011. Reported cases were predominantly linked to critical care units. In June 2011, a four-week national pilot survey took place in 40 Irish critical care units (37 adult and three paediatric) to examine the prevalence of rectal carriage of CPE and inform national CPE screening guidelines. A total of 760 screening swabs were taken over the study period, and CPE were not detected in any of the participating critical care units.
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dublin, Ireland. burnskaren@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murchan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cunney
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheahan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cormican
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D003422:Critical Care; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001618:beta-Lactamases; C063912:carbapenemase