Deaths attributable to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) pose a significant global health threat.
• Understanding the mortality attributable to CRE infections is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the number of deaths attributable to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections worldwide.
• To synthesize existing evidence through a meta-analysis of relevant studies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of online databases for studies published before April 9, 2012.
• Qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis of data from 9 included studies (6 case-control, 2 cohort, 1 prospective cohort).
• Definition of attributable death as the difference in all-cause mortality between CRE-infected and susceptible patients.

Main Results:

• Seven studies indicated that 26%-44% of deaths were attributable to carbapenem resistance.
• Two studies reported negative attributable deaths (-3% and -4%), potentially due to confounding factors or specific infection types.
• Pooled analysis demonstrated significantly higher mortality in patients with CRE infections.

Conclusions:

• Carbapenem resistance is associated with a considerable and significant increase in attributable deaths.
• Further research may be needed to clarify discrepancies in attributable death rates across different study designs and infection types.