Multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) are a growing concern in medicine. Hospitals are uniquely challenged given the complexity of their patients and close hospital quarters with multibed rooms. In 2019, the CDC published Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, a report detailing the threat of 18 MDRO pathogens (bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that can cause disease). These pathogens were classified as “Urgent”, “Serious”, or “Concerning” based on the threat they pose to human health.
Our IDS providers specialize in identifying, containing, and treating MDROs in the hospital setting. We can help determine which patients need to be isolated and which can be removed from isolation protocols. Common MDROs we treat include:
- Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii or CRAB (Urgent): Resistant to carbapenems and other antibiotics. Usually infect blood, urinary tract, lungs, and wounds.
- Clostridioides difficile or C. diff (Urgent): Resistant to several antibiotics and cause severe diarrhea and colitis (colon inflammation).
- Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae or CRE (Urgent): Resistance to at least one carbapenem antibiotic. Infect lungs, urinary tract, skin, and can cause meningitis.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA (Serious): Most commonly infects skin and surgical incisions, but also lungs and blood. Responsible for most deaths from MDROs in U.S.
- Candida auris or C. auris (Urgent): A fungus that is strongly resistant to fluconazole and even 30% are resistant to amphotericin B. Infect blood, wounds, and ears.
- Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus or VRE (Serious): Resistant to vancomycin and other antibiotics like ampicillin. Infect skin, urinary tract and catheters, and blood.
- Extended spectrum beta-lactamase Enterobacteriaceae or ESBL-E (Serious): Resistant to all penicillins and most all cephalosporins. Infect urinary tract and intestines most commonly, but also skin and blood.
- Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa or MDR-Pa (Serious): Defined as resistant to at least one medication in three or more antibiotic classes. Infect blood, lungs, and skin.
- Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase or KPC (Serious, a type of CRE): Resistance to at least one carbapenem antibiotic. Infect lungs, urinary tract, skin, blood, and brain.
- And many other MDROs.
If you would like to learn more about how IDS specialists can help you or your hospital facility with MDROs, request an appointment today online or call (833) 967-2464.
