Active surveillance culture program in asymptomatic patients as a strategy to control multidrug-resistant gram-negative organisms: What should be considered?

Abstract

The increasing burden of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli (MDR-GNB) infection has highlighted the urgent requirement for efficient prevention and control strategies. A routine active surveillance culture (ASC) program of asymptomatic carriers as part of an infection prevention strategy for MDR-GNB still has some controversy. An ASC program for colonized patients may be beneficial depending on the targeted population, level of endemicity, the species of pathogen, and the combination of multifaceted strategies. Multimodal infection control and prevention strategies are crucial for implementation in resources-limited settings. After discovering the culprit, it is a challenge to control MDR-GNB by containment or eradication and prevent cross-transmission. An ASC program should consider both the local epidemiology and cost-effectiveness based on the available resources in endemic MDR-GNB areas in the Asia-Pacific region.

Keywords

• Active surveillance
• Asymptomatic infections
• Gram-negative bacteria
• Infection control
• Multidrug resistance