A new CDC report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine highlights "a dramatic increase in a dangerous type of drug-resistant bacteria called NDM-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE)."
The rise in NDM-CRE threatens to increase CRE infections and deaths. In 2020, there were approximately 12,700 infections and 1,100 deaths in the U.S. due to CRE.
NDM-CRE infections specifically surged by more than 460% in the United States between 2019 and 2023. These infections include "pneumonia, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, and wound infections," and are "extremely hard to treat and can be deadly." Many clinical laboratories lack the necessary testing capacity, which makes detection difficult.
These infections are historically uncommon in the U.S., which means "healthcare providers might not suspect it when treating patients with CRE infections. This can lead them to pick a treatment that is not effective." They are also "resistant to most available antibiotics" and they can easily "move through healthcare settings and into the community."
Some possible reasons for the surge could be gaps in infection control, like inconsistent hand hygiene, glove and gown donning, and proper cleaning and disinfection. Limited testing could also be partially to blame.
