29 Enterobacter (Carbapenem Resistant)

https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/cre/index.html

59 cases

Fewer than 5 deaths

42.4 % of cases were hospitalized

5 cases per 100,000 population


29.1 Epidemiologic Review

29.1.1 Disease Information

Overview: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter is a bacterium that is resistant to one or more carbapenem antibiotics. Carbapenemase-producing bacteria make enzymes called carbapenemases that inactivate carbapenems and other β-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins and cephalosporins. The five most common carbapenemases are KPC, NDM, VIM, OXA, and IMP.

Symptoms: Symptoms vary depending on the type of disease and some people may be asymptomatic.

Transmission: Person-to-person contact of infected stool or wounds. Contaminated medical equipment can also transmit disease.

Treatment: Treatment varies with each isolate. Some cases may be susceptible to a small number of antibiotics while others are pan-resistant, meaning no treatment is available.

Prevention Proper hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment and environmental cleaning practices help reduce the spread of disease. Practicing antibiotic stewardship could help in reducing antibiotic resistance.

29.1.2 Demographics


Rates for <1, 1-4, 5-17, and 18-29 years of age are not displayed due low case counts.

Racial demographic data are not presented due to low counts.


Ethnicity Rate per 100k
Hispanic or Latino 1.2
Not Hispanic or Latino 5.7
Unknown <5 cases


Rates for Unknown Ethnicity are not displayed due to low case counts.

29.1.3 Outbreaks

No outbreaks were identified.

29.1.4 Monthly and Historical Comparisons



Data for Utah and the CDC were retrieved from the CDC’s Notifiable Infectious Disease Data Tables and were available up until 2020.

29.2 Key Things to Know

  • Common comorbidities among cases included cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
  • 33% of case had the risk factor of frequent urinary tract infections.
  • 60% of the cases were identified through a urine specimen type.
  • Of the cases who were hospitalized, 33% had a stay in an intensive care unit.
  • 90% of isolates were resistant to ertapenem.
  • 2 carbapenemase producers were detected: both were KPC.