E Kıymet, E Böncüoğlu, İ Çağlar, R Çolak, AA Kara, N Demiray, T Erdem, TG Yıldırım, H Ağın, N Bayram, Ş Çalkavur, İ Devrim

Abstract

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has emerged as a significant public health threat worldwide. Aim of the study was to evaluate the number of CRE-associated bloodstream infections (BSIs) episodes in patients with previously CRE colonisation at paediatric and neonatal intensive care units. For this purpose, a retrospective cohort of all children, with CRE colonisation detected during routine surveillance in the intensive care units between June 2018-January 2019 was evaluated. Among 496 patients who were screened for CRE colonisation, 79 (15.9%) CRE-colonised patients included in the study. Forty-five (56.9%) patients were detected CRE-colonised in the routine screening cultures prior to the hospitalisation. A total of 14 (n:14/79, 17.7%) CRE infections were observed. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae-colonised children had developed 3.7% (n:3/79) BSIs during follow-up. Although prevalence of CRE-related bacteraemia was relatively low in colonised children, it is necessary to screen rectal CRE colonisation due to high mortality of infection.