6/3/14

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Launches Toolkit for Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae

By on 9:55 AM

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is the latest superbug to create concern with a high rate of morbidity and mortality within healthcare settings. CRE emerged in the early 2000s (possibly as early as 1999, but it was very rare). By 2013, it reached endemic levels in six states, with documentation in 42 states across the nation.

Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumonia, or KPC as it is also known, is highly resistant and was the first gram negative bacteria to produce this enzyme and cause illness in acute care settings. It is now seen together with other gram negative carbapenemase-producing bacteria in long-term acute care hospitals and nursing homes.
http://www.ahrq.gov/cretoolkit
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)  has funded the development of a CRE Control and Prevention Toolkit. It accompanies the CDC's recommendations for preventing CRE in healthcare settings. The toolkit provides guidelines for intervention across the continuum of care (including acute and long-term care) and is available on the AHRQ website at www.ahrq.gov/cretoolkit.

Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC, FAPIC

Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC, FAPIC, is the founder and president of Infection Control Consulting Services LLC (ICCS). Phenelle has more than 30 years' experience providing customized comprehensive infection control and prevention services to healthcare facilities nationwide. Her services focus on assisting hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, dental office and oral surgery practices, doctor's offices, nursing homes and other organizations with implementing and maintaining an infection control program that: complies with The Joint Commission, AAAHC, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) and other regulatory agencies; respond to situations of noncompliance; and improve the processes for reducing risk.