Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae

Occasional Enterobacteriaceae demonstrate carbapenem resistance on automated susceptibility testing and Kirby Bauer confirmation (Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, CRE).

These organisms are sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory for mechanism testing, and extremely rarely express a carbapanemase enzyme (carbapenemase-producing organism, CPO).

CRE are generally highly resistant to all beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones.