Abstract

STANELONI, María Inés et al. Program for the prevention of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteria in critical units in Argentina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medicina (B. Aires) [online]. 2022, vol.82, n.5, pp.722-731. ISSN 0025-7680.

Introduction: The problem of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in countries with a previous high incidence, such as Argentina. This study describes the development and results of a CPE prevention program, mainly carbapenemase-producing Klebsiellas (KPC), in three critical units of two public hospitals during 6 months of the pandemic. Methods: The objective was to reduce the incidence of KPC in clinical and colonization samples. This quasi-experimental study was based on a cycle of improvement and implementation of three measures: hand hygiene, environmental hygiene, and periodic surveillance with rectal swabs. Results: Regarding the measures, all the units optimized active surveillance, and two of these also improved hand and environmental hygiene. Comparing the pre- and post-intervention periods in the three units, no significant change was observed in the rate of KPC positive clinical samples. KPC coloni zation was significantly reduced in two units (unit 2: 51.6-18.5 p 0.0004, unit 3: 62.5-5.2 p < 0.0000001). All units showed a downtrend in both rates towards the end of the study. Conclusion: Containing or reducing the advance of the KPC in our region is possible even in difficult scenarios such as the pandemic. More studies are needed in low- and middle-income countries to demonstrate the impact of KPC prevention programs in these situations.

Keywords : Carbapenem resistant enterobacteriaceae; Multidrug resistant microorganisms; Antimicrobial resis tance; Infection control.

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