Managing a nosocomial outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: An early Australian hospital experience

Abstract

Background: Carbapenems are traditionally reserved as the last line of defence for treatment of serious infections with multiresistant Gram-negative bacilli. Reports of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing organisms have been emerging globally, but rare in Australasia to date. We describe an outbreak of KPC-2 producing K.pneumoniae at an Australian hospital. Methods: After initial detection in October 2012, a retrospective review of patients with meropenem-resistant K.pneumoniae to June 2012, and ongoing prospective surveillance, was undertaken. Included patients were admitted to the hospital after June 2012 and had meropenem-resistant K.pneumoniae isolated from any site. Avai..