Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae

CRE, which stands for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, are a family of germs that are difficult to treat because they have high levels of resistance to antibiotics. Healthy people usually do not get CRE infections. In healthcare settings, CRE infections most commonly occur among 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 most at risk for CRE infections.

Some CRE bacteria have become resistant to most available antibiotics. Infections with these germs are very difficult to treat, and can be deadly—one report cites they can contribute to death in 40% of patients who become infected.

In the USA Today article (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/29/bacteria-deadly-hospital-infection/1727667/) multiple cases of CRE infections occured in the university of Virginia Medical Center. Doctors stuggled to find an anti-biotic strong enough to battle this constantly changing strain of bacteria. 

The exsistance of a bacteria that is resistant to the strongest anti-biotics is a scary reality. Scientists are referring to CRE as the "Superbug". It has spread to at least 42 states and is often over looked in smaller hospitals and nursing homes that lack the technology to identify. It is predicted that an effective drug that will kill CRE will be developed in the future.