Lessons learned from initial reporting of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in New York State hospitals,...

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are an urgent concern in health care in the United States because of high attributable mortality and versatile resistance mechanisms. CRE reporting was mandated in New York State (NYS) hospitals in July 2013.

Infection preventionists from the NYS Department of Health audited hospital-reported CRE data by comparing laboratory records with cases reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Information regarding microbiology laboratory testing methodologies was obtained through a survey in October 2013.

There were 1,151 CRE laboratory reports audited, with 13.6% determined not to have been reported to the NHSN when they should have been and 4.6% determined to be reported in error. There were a variety of errors, including lapses in surveillance and misinterpretation of the surveillance definition.

Educational initiatives that include microbiology laboratory staff, improvements in the use of laboratory information systems to communicate with infection prevention, and updated NHSN definitions should improve the accuracy and consistency of CRE reporting in NYS.