Background: Increasing incidence of carbapenem resistant carbapenemase-producing enterobacteria (CRE-CPE) and carbapenemase-producing enterobacteria (CPE), known as CRE-CPE / CPE, pose a significant public health challenge. Treatment is complicated as these isolates are resistant to most beta-lactam antibiotics. Specific combinations with carbapenemase inhibitors are only effective against certain serine carbapenemases, there are no specific inhibitors for metallo-beta-lactamases currently in clinical use. CRE-CPE / CPE isolates are usually resistant to other antibiotic classes further reducing treatment options.
Methods: Data on the number of patients with CRE-CPE / CPE isolates were collected from laboratory information systems from microbiology laboratories in all Slovenian regions, isolated from clinical and surveillance specimens between 2017 and 2022.
Results: There were significant variations in the prevalence of CRE-CPE / CPE, with a notable increase over the past six years. Klebsiella pneumoniae (166 patients) was most frequent CRE-CPE / CPE isolate from clinical samples, followed by Citrobacter spp. (58 patients), Enterobacter spp. (45 patients), and Escherichia coli (31 patients). The proportion of K. pneumoniae – CRE-CPE / CPE and E. coli – CRE-CPE / CPEsteadily rose (6- and 5.5-fold higher incidence, respectively) in 2022 than in 2017. The burden of CRE-CPE / CPE in clinical specimens increased from 0.3/100,000 inhabitants in 2017 to 1.1/100,000 inhabitants in 2022. Majority of CRE-CPE / CPE patients (on average 69.7 %) we found only through surveillance samples. Total burden of CRE-CPE / CPE from clinical and surveillance samples increased from 0.6/100.000 inhabitants in 2017 to 3.4/100.000 inhabitants in 2022, the highest burden represented K. pneumoniae CRE-CPE CPE with 7/100.000 inhabitants.
Conclusions: There has been a substantial increase in patients with CRE-CPE / CPE isolates in Slovenia in the past 6 years. Optimal microbiological diagnostics, prudent antibiotic use, and regional hospital hygiene measures, without a national system within and outside healthcare facilities, are insufficient. Regular monitoring of resistance trends, tracking colonized or infected patients in both hospital and community settings, and implementing appropriate local and national measures are crucial and should continually adapt to evolving epidemiological circumstances.
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