Emerging Infectious Diseases (Nov 2022)

Increased Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales Bacteria in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Genara Romero Thomas,
  • Alejandra Corso,
  • Fernando Pasterán,
  • Justina Shal,
  • Aldo Sosa,
  • Marcelo Pillonetto,
  • Renata Tigulini de Souza Peral,
  • Juan Carlos Hormazábal,
  • Pamela Araya,
  • Sandra Yamile Saavedra,
  • Mariá Victoria Ovalle,
  • María Antonieta Jiménez Pearson,
  • Grettel Chanto Chacón,
  • Eric Carbon,
  • Carmen Julia Mazariegos Herrera,
  • Selene del Carmen González Velásquez,
  • Carolina Satan-Salazar,
  • Fernando Villavicencio,
  • Nancy Melgarejo Touchet,
  • Sofía Busignani,
  • Maritza Mayta-Barrios,
  • Juan Ramírez-Illescas,
  • Mariana López Vega,
  • Cristina Mogdasy,
  • Verónica Rosas,
  • Nuris Salgado,
  • Rodolfo Quiroz,
  • Nathalie El-Omeiri,
  • Marcelo Fabián Galas,
  • Pilar Ramón-Pardo,
  • Roberto Gustavo Melano

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2811.220415
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 11
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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During 2020–2021, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean reported clinical emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales that had not been previously characterized locally, increased prevalence of carbapenemases that had previously been detected, and co-production of multiple carbapenemases in some isolates. These increases were likely fueled by changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including empirical antibiotic use for potential COVID-19–related bacterial infections and healthcare limitations resulting from the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases. Strengthening antimicrobial resistance surveillance, epidemiologic research, and infection prevention and control programs and antimicrobial stewardship in clinical settings can help prevent emergence and transmission of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

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