CRE & Our Hospital Curtains

Understanding CRE

Enterobacteriaceae are a large, complex family of gram-negative, non-spore forming bacteria. Common Enterobacteriaceae come from genera including Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Salmonella, Escherichia, Shigella, Proteus and Serratia.

They are classed as Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) when these bacteria become resistant to the carbapenem class of antibiotics, which up until now has often been considered a ‘drug of last resort’.

The genetic make-up of the Enterobacteriaceae allows them to produce enzymes which can break down the carbapenem antibiotics, making them ineffective and so allowing the bacteria to become antibiotic resistant.

Other carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) exist, such as Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, and can also cause issues in terms of HAIs.

What makes CRE & CRO so difficult to treat is not only have they built-up resistance to carbapenem antibiotics, they are also becoming resistance to nearly all antibiotics, leading to infections with significant morbidity and mortality. On top of this, CRO bacteria are able to pass their antibiotic resistance to neighbouring bacteria, helping spread resistance and make the treatment of HAIs that much harder.

How is CRE spread

Healthy people do not usually get CRE infections. However, in a healthcare or medical setting the prevalence of CRE infections has become a major concern with particular focus on long-term or acute patient care areas.

CRE can be spread when medications or medical instruments - such as ventilators or urine catheters - contaminated with the organisms are used, or if antibiotics are overused. They can also be spread from person-to-person by someone carrying the organisms on their hands.

Why choose Endurocide^® Antimicrobial Plus Curtains

It is essential to take a layered approach to the role of infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. As high-touch points within a healthcare setting, curtains play a crucial role in either aiding or hindering infection control practices.

Endurocide^® Antimicrobial Plus Curtains are an exceptional choice for hospitals seeking comprehensive pathogen protection, including against CRE & CRO. These curtains offer superior defence against a wide range of pathogens - including bacteria, fungi, spores, enveloped viruses and mycobacteria - and surpass the performance of other more basic antimicrobial alternatives that may only target a limited range of pathogens, or cannot match the longevity of Endurocide^® Curtains.

Endurocide^® Antimicrobial Plus Curtains have been tested and proven to both trap pathogens on the surface of the curtain - preventing them from growing and reproducing - and, once trapped, kill them. This dual mechanism of trapping and killing pathogens is key in helping to break the chain of infection.

Tested against over 20 different pathogens, Endurocide^® Antimicrobial Plus Curtains have been independently tested and shown to be effective against the following  specific CRE & CRO pathogens:

• Acinetobacter baumannii
• Acinetobacter baumannii (CRA)
• Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRA)
• Escherichia coli
• Salmonella typhimurium
• Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) Escherichia coli
• Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Salmonella choleraesuis

In addition, Endurocide^® Antimicrobial Plus Curtains have been tested and shown to be effective against specific CRE for up to two years after manufacture.

Conclusion

In the face of escalating CRE risk, selecting the appropriate hospital disposable curtain is crucial for effective infection control.

Endurocide^® Antimicrobial Plus Curtains provide hospitals with a comprehensive and superior solution for their curtain needs. From their broad antimicrobial protection, effectiveness against CRE and long-lasting efficacy, Endurocide^® Curtains offer hospitals a reliable tool for infection control as well as providing a proactive and logical step in helping safeguarding patients, healthcare workers, and the overall well-being of the healthcare environment.

References

• https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/cre/technical-info.html

• https://apic.org/Resource_/TinyMceFileManager/Topic-specific/CRE_My_Bugaboo.pdf

• https://www.nicd.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Carbapenem–resistant-bacteria-FAQ-Document_2018.pdf

• https://doh.wa.gov/public-health-healthcare-providers/notifiable-conditions/carbapenemresistant-enterobacterales#:~:text=Other%20frequently%20encountered%20carbapenem%2Dresistant,)%2C%20and%20other%20body%20sites.

• https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/cre/cre-patients.html#:~:text=CRE%20stands%20for%20carbapenem%2Dresistant,coli).

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information presented in this article was correct at time of publication. However, Bio Technics Ltd. does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

While Endurocide^® Antimicrobial Plus Curtains have been independently tested to provide antimicrobial activity for up to two years in-situ, the actual length of curtain use achieved will depend on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: individual hospital practices; the natural longevity of polypropylene; the risk of the curtain being soiled from items such as blood, urine and general spills; etc. Curtains should always be replaced when visibly soiled.

All data and timescales provided/referenced are offered for guidance purposes only and under no circumstances whatsoever constitute a guarantee.