The increasing incidence of carbapenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacterales as major pathogens in healthcare associated infections (HAIs) is of paramount concern. To implement effective prevention strategies against carbapenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacterales (CnSE) HAIs, it is crucial to identify modifiable factors associated with these infections. We identified risk factors for CnSE-HAIs, and compared clinical outcomes of CnSE-HAI and carbapenem-sensitive Enterobacterales (CSE)-HAI patients.
We conducted a multi-centre parallel matched case-control study in two 1700-bedded Singapore acute-care hospitals from 2014–2016. Patients with CnSE-HAIs and CSE-HAIs were compared to a common control group without HAIs (1:1:3 ratio), matched by time-at-risk and patient ward. Carbapenem nonsusceptible was defined as non-susceptibility to either meropenem or imipenem. Presence of healthcare associated infections were defined by the criteria provided by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Outcomes of CnSE-HAI and CSE-HAI patients were compared using multivariable logistic and cox regression; the models were adjusted for infection and treatment characteristics.
Eighty CnSE-HAI and 80 CSE-HAI patients were matched to 240 patients without HAIs. All CRE-HAIs patients had prior antibiotic exposure, with 44 (55.0%) with prior carbapenem exposure. The most common CnSE-HAIs were intra-abdominal infections (28.8%) and pneumonia (23.8%). The most common CnSE species was
Appropriate management of deep-seated Enterobacterales infections and reducing exposure to carbapenems may reduce risk of CnSE-HAIs in Singapore. Efforts to improve antimicrobial therapy in CnSE-HAI patients may improve patient outcomes.