title: Action Plan to combat infections due to carbapenem-resistant, Gram-negative pathogens in acute-care hospitals in Greece.
abstract: The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant pathogens (CRPs) has increased worldwide. Given the importance of CRPs for public health and the high rates of carbapenem resistance observed in Greece, the Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP) under the auspices of the Ministry of Health has undertaken initiatives to develop an Action Plan (i) to estimate the burden of CRP infections in acute-care hospitals in Greece and (ii) to implement infection control measures to limit the intrahospital transmission of these organisms. Starting in November 2010, specific infections caused by CRPs were reported to the HCDCP weekly. Results showed that CRP infections constitute a significant public health problem in acute-care hospitals in this country, with a mean incidence of 0.48 per 1000 patient-days and a crude 28-day mortality rate of 34.4%. The second phase of the Action Plan consists of systemic evaluation for adherence to an infection control bundle including enhanced standard infection control practices, separation of carriers and infected patients from non-carriers, and strict implementation of contact precautions. Communication between hospitals and public health authorities has been established to facilitate rapid notification and feedback.
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece. Electronic address: helen-maltezou@ath.forthnet.gr.
authors.forename: Helena C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Maltezou
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kontopidou
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Xanthi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dedoukou
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katerelos
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios-Michael
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Gourgoulis
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Paraskeui
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsonou
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maragos
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gargalianos
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gikas
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gogos
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koumis
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Moyssis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lelekis
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Efstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maltezos
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Margariti
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Angelos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pefanis
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petrikkos
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Syrogiannopoulos
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsakris
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Alkiviadis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vatopoulos
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saroglou
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kremastinou
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
authors.forename: George L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Daikos
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3-5 Agrafon Street, Athens 15123, Greece.
keywords: Action Plan; Carbapenem-resistant; Gram-negative; Hospital; Infection; Infection control; Nosocomial