The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has raised an alarm about the escalating incidence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infections, underscoring the profound risk they pose. The ECDC’s rapid risk assessment describes an alarming epidemiologic situation, worsening since 2019, with evident increases in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections in 23 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) nations. This surge stems from unabated transmission of high-risk strains of carbapenem-resistant K pneumoniae in hospital settings.
Moreover, the ECDC reports the emergence of a hypervirulent strain of K pneumoniae—sequence type (ST)23—that has gained resistance to carbapenems. It also highlights the detection of carbapenemase genes in high-risk lineages of Escherichia coli, raising concerns about potential community spread and new Enterobacterales species.
CRE infections exhibit resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, leaving healthcare professionals with limited viable treatment strategies. This has resulted in high mortality rates attributable to CRE bloodstream infections. ECDC Chief Scientist Piotr Kramarz emphasized the need for immediate action to curb this escalating issue and safeguard patients, noting the likelihood of enhanced CRE spread in both hospital settings and the community.
The ECDC strongly encourages all EU/EEA countries to instigate elevated infection prevention and control measures in hospitals to impede the transmission of carbapenem-resistant K pneumoniae and other CRE. It also advises the creation of a CRE management plan, reinforcement of national coordination of control efforts between hospitals and regions, enhanced genomic surveillance, and the application of antimicrobial stewardship to maintain carbapenem effectiveness.
The healthcare landscape is also witnessing promising initiatives, with Uganda’s health ministry, in association with the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, launching a vaccine trial against the Ebola Sudan virus. This marks the first examination of the clinical efficacy of a vaccine specific to the Ebola Sudan virus. The trial will utilize a ring vaccination strategy, targeting contacts of infected individuals and their subsequent contacts.
Furthermore, local health departments in Michigan’s Kalamazoo County and San Diego are currently investigating active tuberculosis (TB) cases at high schools, while chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected in two male deer in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, marking the county’s inaugural detections of the fatal neurologic affliction. The U.S faces further healthcare challenges with the report of 67 active TB cases and 79 latent TB cases in two Kansas counties since the beginning of 2024, along with H5N1 affecting more poultry farms in 11 states.
As infection prevention professionals, it is crucial to take note of these unfolding health crises, remain vigilant, and work collaboratively to control and prevent the spread of these infections. Ensuring robust infection prevention measures are in place and enhancing education, surveillance, and networking will offer the best defense against these significant infectious disease challenges.