Newly Found Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria: CRE

Before I go into what I think about CRE, I think you all should know what it is.

 CRE stands for ...

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae 

This bacteria is known to be antibiotic resistant and found mostly hospital and medical care facilities. A post in USATODAY states that "The antibiotic resistance is spread by mobile pieces of DNA that can move between different species of bacteria, creating new, drug-defying bugs". These "bugs"...or CRE is becoming a threat to patients in these health care facilities. The CDC states that "CRE bacteria are most often spread person-to-person through contact with infected or colonized people, particularly contact with wounds or stool. In healthcare settings, CRE infections occur among sick patients who are receiving treatment for other conditions. Patients whose care requires devices like ventilators (breathing machines), urinary (bladder) catheters, or intravenous (vein) catheters, and patients who are taking long courses of certain antibiotics are among those at risk for CRE infections."......Quite frankly this really does scare me. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are supposed to be places where you get cured or you get care for infectious such as these, but if the place of expected care is also the source of infection, then what is one to do? Yes, I understand, there is bacteria everywhere, but the fact that it is resistant to most antibiotics has me worried. In some cases the infections caused by this bacteria are deadly.

But for people who are a bit worried like me, CDC suggests a few things...

Patients should:

• Expect all doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers wash their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after touching your body or tubes going into your body.
• Clean their own hands often, especially:
  • Before preparing or eating food
  • Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
  • Before and after changing wound dressings or bandages or handling medical devices
  • After using the bathroom
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• Ask questions. Understand what is being done to you, the risks and benefits.