Risk Factors Associated with Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in the West Central Health District: A Retrospective Analysis
Abstract
Background:
Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are an urgent public health threat that causes severe infections, especially in the vulnerable population within Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF). CRE cases are gradually increasing in West Central Health District, therefore, understanding the related risk factors that contribute to CRE cases can help target interventions.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis of reported CRE cases was conducted for the period from 2020 to 2024. Cases were extracted from SENDSS. A total of 186 CRE cases were included in the study, with yearly counts as follows: 43 cases as of October 15, 2024, 56 cases in 2023, 32 cases in 2022, 29 cases in 2021, and 26 cases in 2020. Variables measured were hospitalization, LTCF residence, age, gender, race, antibiotic use, and comorbidities (e.g., lung disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc.). Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate the rate ratios (RR) for these variables, with CRE case count as the dependent variable.
Results:
Hospitalization was a significant predictor, with an RR of 2.5 (p < 0.05), indicating that CRE infections were 2.5 times more likely in hospitalized individuals; LTCF residence showed a strong association with CRE cases, with an RR of 3.0 (p < 0.01), suggesting that residing in a long-term care facility increased the CRE incidence rate by 3 times; Antibiotic use was associated with an increased risk of CRE, with an RR of 1.8 (p < 0.05), highlighting an 80% higher rate of CRE infections among those who had taken antibiotics prior to infection; Comorbidities, such as pneumonia and hypertension, also attributed to developing CRE infections.
Conclusions:
The results demonstrate that hospitalization, LTCF residence, and prior antibiotic use are key drivers of CRE infections in the West Central Health District. Interventions for infection control practices should be priority in hospitals and long-term care facilities, especially among those receiving antibiotics.
Keywords
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), Infection Control, risk factors, epidemiology, surveillance
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Risk Factors Associated with Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in the West Central Health District: A Retrospective Analysis
Background:
Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are an urgent public health threat that causes severe infections, especially in the vulnerable population within Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF). CRE cases are gradually increasing in West Central Health District, therefore, understanding the related risk factors that contribute to CRE cases can help target interventions.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis of reported CRE cases was conducted for the period from 2020 to 2024. Cases were extracted from SENDSS. A total of 186 CRE cases were included in the study, with yearly counts as follows: 43 cases as of October 15, 2024, 56 cases in 2023, 32 cases in 2022, 29 cases in 2021, and 26 cases in 2020. Variables measured were hospitalization, LTCF residence, age, gender, race, antibiotic use, and comorbidities (e.g., lung disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc.). Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate the rate ratios (RR) for these variables, with CRE case count as the dependent variable.
Results:
Hospitalization was a significant predictor, with an RR of 2.5 (p < 0.05), indicating that CRE infections were 2.5 times more likely in hospitalized individuals; LTCF residence showed a strong association with CRE cases, with an RR of 3.0 (p < 0.01), suggesting that residing in a long-term care facility increased the CRE incidence rate by 3 times; Antibiotic use was associated with an increased risk of CRE, with an RR of 1.8 (p < 0.05), highlighting an 80% higher rate of CRE infections among those who had taken antibiotics prior to infection; Comorbidities, such as pneumonia and hypertension, also attributed to developing CRE infections.
Conclusions:
The results demonstrate that hospitalization, LTCF residence, and prior antibiotic use are key drivers of CRE infections in the West Central Health District. Interventions for infection control practices should be priority in hospitals and long-term care facilities, especially among those receiving antibiotics.
