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Increased Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales Bacteria in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Genara Romero Thomas et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

During 2020-2021, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean reported clinical emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales that had not been previously characterized locally, increased prevalence of carbapenemases that had previously been detected, and co-production of multiple carbapenemases in some isolates. These increases were likely fueled by changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including empirical antibiotic use for potential COVID-19-related bacterial infections and healthcare limitations resulting from the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases. Strengthening antimicrobial resistance surveillance, epidemiologic research, and infection prevention and control programs and antimicrobial stewardship in clinical settings can help prevent emergence and transmission of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

Keywords: COVID-19; Corso A; Latin America; Pasterán F; Pillonetto M; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; Shal J; Sosa A; Suggested citation for this article: Romero Thomas G; antimicrobial resistance; bacteria; carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; enteric infections; et al. Increased detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales bacteria in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Nov [date cited]. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2811.220415; food safety; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; the Caribbean; viruses; zoonoses.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Increased rates of meropenem nonsusceptibility (intermediate plus resistance categories) in Klebsiella pneumoniae from countries reporting changes in the prevalence of some carbapenemase genes in study of increased detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales bacteria in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries listed are those that had continuous susceptibility data in the Latin American Network for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance database.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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