CRE Hospital Infections May Soon Have to be Reported to Los Angeles County Officials

In October, the Los Angeles Times published a news story that Los Angeles County is planning to once again require that hospitals report if a patient becomes infected with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) to health officials.

CRE are a family of germs that are difficult to treat because they have high levels of resistance to antibiotics. Carbapenem describes a class of antibiotics that is frequently used to treat severe infections and is often considered the antibiotics taken of last resort.

Healthy people typically do not get CRE infections, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 9,000 healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are caused by CRE each year. In healthcare settings, CRE infections most commonly occur among patients who are receiving treatment for other conditions. Patients whose care requires devices like ventilators, urinary or intravenous catheters and patients who are taking long courses of certain antibiotics are most at risk for CRE infections.

The CDC reports that Klebsiella species and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are examples of Enterobacteriaceae, a normal part of the human gut bacteria, which can become carbapenem-resistant. Types of CRE are sometimes known as Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) and New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1). KPC and NDM-1 are enzymes that break down carbapenems and make them ineffective.

“There have been reports that CRE infections can contribute to death in up to 50% of patients, so it’s important that this type of infection information is shared with public health officials,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “To help prevent the spread of CRE and other superbugs, LA Testing provides environmental testing services to help identify their presence. These services are instrumental for identifying contaminated surfaces and instruments, and to confirm cleaning and disinfection procedures are effective.”

LA Testing has sponsored a video about carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/I7wS6qZ5FeE.

To learn more about environmental testing for CRE, C. diff, MRSA and other microbial pathogens, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. 

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, NVLAP, CDC ELITE, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including Huntington Beach, San Diego, San Leandro and South Pasadena.
 

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