What are CRE?
- Enterobacterales are a group of bacteria that are a normal part of the gut. Sometimes, they can cause infections. Especially if you are at higher risk. Patients in healthcare settings, people taking long courses of certain antibiotics, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of infection.
- Healthy people rarely develop CRE infections.
- Examples of bacteria include E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. CRE are bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotics. They are also resistant to most other antibiotics and can cause a wide range of infections.
- Carbapenems are a class of antibiotics and among the strongest available. They are often used to treat severe cases or healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
- Visit this link for more information on CRE: https://www.cdc.gov/cre/about/
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Simplified Summary
CRE are a group of bacteria that are a normal part of the gut. Sometimes, they can cause infections and are resistant to certain types of antibiotics. Healthy people usually do not get sick from CRE.