Recurrence, Readmission, and Key Mortality Predictors in Patients with Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales...

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are designated by the World Health Organization as critical-priority pathogens. While global outcomes are well documented, regional data from the Middle East remain limited. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of adults with confirmed CRE infections admitted to King Fahad Hospital of the University, Saudi Arabia, between 2019 and 2024. Clinical, microbiological, and therapeutic data were analyzed. Primary outcomes were infection recurrence, recurrence-related readmissions, and all-cause mortality at 14, 30, and 90 days. Predictors were assessed using univariate tests and multivariate Cox regression. Results: Among 101 patients (mean age 65 years, 57% female), Klebsiella pneumoniae predominated (94%), with OXA-48 detected in 70%. Most infections were hospital-acquired (78%). Recurrence occurred in 16.8% of cases, with 12.9% requiring readmission. Mortality reached 22.8% at 14 days, 30.7% at 30 days, and 42.6% at 90 days. Diabetes mellitus predicted recurrence (p = 0.024). Independent predictors of 90-day mortality were pneumonia (HR 2.39, 95% CI 1.23-4.64), critical care admission (HR 6.24, 95% CI 2.44-15.97), and hypotension (HR 4.10, 95% CI 1.84-9.15). Elevated Pitt bacteremia and INCREMENT-CPE scores also stratified risk. Conclusions: CRE infections in Saudi Arabia impose a heavy clinical burden, with high recurrence, frequent readmissions, and late mortality. Identifying drivers of recurrence and mortality highlights opportunities for targeted risk stratification. Beyond treatment choices, these findings emphasize the need for proactive surveillance, integrated stewardship, and early recognition of high-risk patients. Region-specific evidence such as this is critical to shaping infection control policies and guiding future multicenter research into novel therapeutic approaches.