The spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in South Africa: risk factors for acquisition and prevention

New, effective antibiotics are only likely to become available in 15 - 20 years. To prevent deaths from untreatable Gram-negative infections in South Africa, the rights of any doctor, whether in general or in hospital practice, to indiscriminately prescribe whatever antibiotic they wish, and in what...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:South African medical journal 2012-07, Vol.102 (7), p.599-601
Main Authors: Brink, Adrian, Coetzee, Jennifer, Clay, Cornelis, Corcoran, Craig, van Greune, Johan, Deetlefs, J D, Nutt, Louise, Feldman, Charles, Richards, Guy, Nordmann, Patrice, Poirel, Laurent
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
beta-Lactam Resistance
Carbapenems
Carbapenems - therapeutic use
Demographic aspects
Development and progression
Drug resistance in microorganisms
Enterobacteriaceae - drug effects
Enterobacteriaceae - isolation & purification
Enterobacteriaceae infections
Enterobacteriaceae Infections - drug therapy
Enterobacteriaceae Infections - epidemiology
Enterobacteriaceae Infections - prevention & control
Health aspects
Humans
Infection Control - methods
Population Surveillance
Risk Factors
South Africa - epidemiology
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Summary:New, effective antibiotics are only likely to become available in 15 - 20 years. To prevent deaths from untreatable Gram-negative infections in South Africa, the rights of any doctor, whether in general or in hospital practice, to indiscriminately prescribe whatever antibiotic they wish, and in whatever fashion, must be challenged. Furthermore, although prevention of the emergence and subsequent spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has focused on acute and chronic care facilities and inter alia on antibiotic exposure in these institutions, CRE may soon become an issue within entire communities, highlighting a role for public health authorities in CRE prevention efforts.
ISSN:0256-9574
DOI:10.7196/samj.5789