Real Life Contagion? .. Deadly CRE

The bacteria Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are named for their ability to fight off carbapenem antibiotics which are recognized the last line of defense in the fight. Enterobacteriaceae is a family of bacteria, which live in our everyday environment, in places like water and soil. This family of bacteria is known to cause pneumonia, kidney and bladder infections, and bloodstream infections. But thankfully most can be treated with antibiotics. But because of antibiotic overuse  many Enterobacteriaceae have adapted and become resistant.

So far, CRE has emerged almost only in hospitals, nursing homes and other health facilities; however, mostly only the weakest of patients are being affected. In the USA TODAY's research there have been thousands of CRE cases throughout the country in recent years but crazily enough they show up as everything from pneumonia to intestinal and urinary tract infections. Like trying to find a lost kid at the fair, nearly impossible to just pick out.

The CRE bacteria's ability to defeat the most potent antibiotics there is,  has scared a good number of people for illnesses that now can't be stopped. Death rates among patients with CRE infections can be about 40%,  which is a whole lot worse compared to other more widely known health care infections like MRSA, which have troubled health care facilities everywhere. But the main and most common concern is CRE being found within the general "healthy" community.

The bacteria CRE infections have already been and are endemic in several major U.S. areas, including that of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, which are among the top 5 most populous cities in the country.  But even smaller scale rural areas have seen cases reported in places like Oregon, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina.

The biggest challenge is containing the spread of CRE, however, first the must figure out where it is coming from, who it's most common in and how will they prevent it.
"There is no billing code for CRE infections under Medicare or Medicaid, the health care programs for the elderly, poor and disabled, and there's no federal reporting requirement for the infections. So getting a reliable national picture of prevalence or where cases are concentrated is a challenge."
-- USA TODAY

It's apparent that CRE is spreading and it is spreading rapidly.
"But the bacteria are there to stay, lurking somewhere, invisible and always a threat."