[Program for the prevention of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteria in critical units in Argentina during the COVID-19 pandemic]

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The problem of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in countries with a previous high incidence, such as Argentina. This study describes the development and results of a CPE prevention program, mainly carbapenemase-producing Klebsiellas (KPC), in three critical units of two public hospitals during 6 months of the pandemic. METHODS: The objective was to reduce the incidence of KPC in clinical and colonization samples. This quasi-experimental study was based on a cycle of improvement and implementation of three measures: hand hygiene, environmental hygiene, and periodic surveillance with rectal swabs. RESULTS: Regarding the measures, all the units optimized active surveillance, and two of these also improved hand and environmental hygiene. Comparing the pre- and post-intervention periods in the three units, no significant change was observed in the rate of KPC positive clinical samples. KPC colonization was significantly reduced in two units (unit 2 51.6-18.5 p 0.0004, unit 3 62.5-5.2 p < 0.0000001). All units showed a downtrend in both rates towards the end of the study. CONCLUSION: Containing or reducing the advance of the KPC in our region is possible even in difficult scenarios such as the pandemic. More studies are needed in low- and middle-income countries to demonstrate the impact of KPC prevention programs in these situations.