Implementation of Preventive Actions to Control Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae and MDR Gram Negatives at a Neurological Hospital

Objectives: Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological surveillance of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) effected at the Neurological Hospital Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy. The primary causes in our division of multidrug-resistant (MDRs) infections in 2016 were K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii; the preventive actions have ensured the reduction of their incidence in 2017 and allowed us to discover the microbiological sentinel events (SE) and start appropriate precautionary behavior and isolation. Methods: The setting is inpatient care with MDR infections and the aim of the procedure is to formalize the management mode, reporting and transmission of SE, collected at the end of study period for previous years from January 1st, 2015 to December 31st, 2017. Results: It should be noted that of a total of 5772 hospitalizations detected in 2016 there was an increase in rate of A. baumannii compared to the rate found in 2015 for 5679 hospitalizations and in 2017 for 5682 hospitalizations; the same trend was observed for K. pneumoniae. For as regards P. aeruginosa carbapenemase producing or MDR, the rates were lower in 2016 and in 2017. Conclusions: The main goals that we achieved in the three years considered are the decreased incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the decreased incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms. These actions were of course associated with the control of antibiotic pressure and a careful stewardship. The strict surveillance of HAIs is fundamental to control the growing reservoir within hospital communities. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 10(1):1-9.