Introduced in the 1980s, carbapenem antibiotics have served as the last line of defense against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms. Over the last decade, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have emerged as a significant public health threat. This review summarizes the molecular genetics, natural history, and epidemiology of CRE and discusses approaches to prevention and treatment.
Keywords: antimicrobial resistance; carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae; carbapenemases; infection control; molecular genetics; treatment.
© 2014 New York Academy of Sciences.