Increased Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales Bacteria in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Romero Thomas G.; Corso A.; Pasterán F.; Shal J.; Sosa A.; Pillonetto M.; Tigulini de Souza Peral R.; Hormazábal J.C.; Araya P.; Saavedra S.Y.; Ovalle M.V.; Jiménez Pearson M.A.; Chanto Chacón G.; Carbon E.; Mazariegos Herrera C.J.; González Velásquez S.D.C.; Satán-Salazar C.; Villavicencio F.; Touchet N.M.; Busignani S.; Mayta-Barrios M.; Ramírez-Illescas J.; Vega M.L.; Mogdasy C.; Rosas V.; Salgado N.; Quiroz R.; El-Omeiri N.; Galas M.F.; Ramón-Pardo P.; Melano R.G. · Emerging Infectious Diseases (2022) · DOI: 10.3201/eid2811.220415

Resumen

During 2020–2021, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean reported clinical emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales that had not been previously characterized locally, increased prevalence of carbapenemases that had previously been detected, and co-production of multiple carbapenemases in some isolates. These increases were likely fueled by changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including empirical antibiotic use for potential COVID-19–related bacterial infections and healthcare limitations resulting from the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases. Strengthening antimicrobial resistance surveillance, epidemiologic research, and infection prevention and control programs and antimicrobial stewardship in clinical settings can help prevent emergence and transmission of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.