The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has issued a warning about the growing spread of carbapenem-resistant bacteria both in healthcare and community settings in Europe. ECDC places special emphasis on resistant E. coli.
Studies published in Eurosurveillance with data from 17 countries in the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA) show a spread of the bacteria Escherichia coli sequence type 131, known for its resistance to multiple drugs, including carbapenems.
This specific type of E. coli It is associated with serious infections and is responsible for a high number of deaths attributable to antimicrobial resistance.
Studies indicate that E. coli 131 is increasingly affecting patients in the community, particularly due to its possible relationship with urinary tract infections. Most cases were recorded in women, with a median age of 57 years, and in urine samples, suggesting that the spread of these infections is not limited to hospitals.
If resistance to carbapenems continues to increase, these antibiotics may no longer be effective in treating serious infections. E. coli, which would jeopardize the ability to treat infections empirically.
Resistant Providencia stuartii: a risk in European hospitals
The ECDC has also identified sustained transmission of the bacteria Providence stuartii carbapenem-resistant influenza in hospitals, especially in Romania. This microorganism, a producer of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1), had previously been rare in Europe, but is now detected in several countries, including Bulgaria, France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.
In Romania, four clusters of resistant isolates were identified in hospitals over a year, related to bloodstream, lower respiratory tract and urinary tract infections. 90% of the analysed isolates showed resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, including penicillins, cephalosporins and carbapenems.
Risk of international spread
The specific lineage of P. stuartii detected in Romania has been linked to isolations in other European countries and the United States, which signals a high risk of international spread. Sustained transmission within hospitals and the ability to cross borders underscore the urgency of effective control and prevention measures.
Healthcare facilities should implement rigorous infection control strategies as soon as cases are detected to prevent prolonged outbreaks and the international spread of resistant bacteria.
Awareness and action against antimicrobial resistance
The publication of these studies coincides with global efforts to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance, a critical problem that threatens the effectiveness of current treatments. Resistance to carbapenems, a class of last-resort antibiotics, represents a particular challenge, as treatment options are limited.
ECDC urges EU/EEA countries to strengthen surveillance and control measures in hospitals and communities to contain the spread of these dangerous bacteria.
