Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology (Jan 2023)

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales incidence in the South-East Asia region: an observational study

  • Kyaw Zaw Linn,
  • Stephanie Sutjipto,
  • Oon Tek Ng,
  • Jeanette Teo,
  • Benjamin Pei Zhi Cherng,
  • Thean Yen Tan,
  • Surinder Kaur Pada,
  • Say Tat Ooi,
  • Nares Smitasin,
  • Koh Cheng Thoon,
  • Xiaowei Huan,
  • Partha Pratim De,
  • Douglas Chan,
  • Nancy Wen Sim Tee,
  • Michelle Ang,
  • Li Yang Hsu,
  • Raymond Tzer Pin Lin,
  • Tong Yong Ng,
  • Rama Narayana Deepak,
  • Tse Hsien Koh,
  • Anucha Apisarnthanarak,
  • Sasheela Ponnampalavanar,
  • Indumathi Venkatachalam,
  • Kalisvar Marimuthu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/ash.2023.477
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3

Abstract

Read online

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an initial increase in the incidence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) from clinical cultures in South-East Asia hospitals, which was unsustained as the pandemic progressed. Conversely, there was a decrease in CRE incidence from surveillance cultures and overall combined incidence. Further studies are needed for future pandemic preparedness.