Acute trust toolkit for the early detection, management and control of carbapenemase - producing Enterobacteriaceae

This toolkit incorporates, in an updated form, the January 2011 ‘Advice on Carbapenemase Producers: Recognition, infection control and treatment’ issued jointly by Department of Health Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) and the Health Protection Agency (HPA) now Public Health England (PHE) This toolkit has been written to provide expert advice on the management of colonisation or infection due to carbapenemase - producing Enterobacteriaceae in England, to prevent or reduce their spread into (and within) health and residential care settings. In the UK, over the last five years, we have seen a rapid increase in the incidence of infection and colonisation by multi-drug resistant carbapenemase-producing organisms. A number of clusters and outbreaks have been reported in England, some of which have been contained, providing evidence that when the appropriate control measures are implemented, these clusters and outbreaks can be managed effectively.