Epidemiology of patients harboring carbapenemase-producing bacteria and comparison with patients with detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales-A retrospective cohort study

Objective:We evaluated the epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing bacteria (CPB) in Switzerland by comparing risk factors between patients colonized with CPB and patients colonized with extended-spectrum & beta;-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE). Methods:This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland. Hospitalized patients with CPB in any sample between January 2008 and July 2019 were included. The ESBL-PE group consisted of hospitalized patients with detection of ESBL-PE from any sample between January 2016 and December 2018. Comparisons of risk factors for acquisition of CPB and ESBL-PE were performed by logistic regression. Results:Inclusion criteria were met for 50 patients in the CPB group and 572 in the ESBL-PE group. In the CPB group, 62% had a travel history and 60% had been hospitalized abroad. When comparing the CPB group to the ESBL-PE group, hospitalization abroad (odds ratio [OR], 25.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11.07-57.98) and prior antibiotic therapy (OR, 4.76; 95% CI, 2.15-10.55) remained independently associated with CPB colonization. Hospitalization abroad (P < .001) and prior antibiotic therapy (P < .001) predicted CPB in the comparison of CPB with ESBL Escherichia coli, whereas hospitalization abroad was associated with CPB in comparison to ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae. Conclusions:Although CPB still seem to be mainly imported from areas of higher endemicity, local acquisition of CPB is emerging, especially in patients with close and/or frequent contact with healthcare services. This trend resembles the epidemiology of ESBL K. pneumoniae, supporting mainly healthcare-associated transmission. Frequent evaluation of CPB epidemiology is required to improve detection of patients at risk of CPB carriage.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing bacteria (CPB) in Switzerland and compared the risk factors between patients colonized with CPB and patients colonized with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE). The results showed that hospitalization abroad and prior antibiotic therapy were independently associated with CPB colonization. Frequent evaluation of CPB epidemiology is required to improve detection of patients at risk of CPB carriage.