MARCH 27, 2018

Phantom Menace Increasingly Prevalent in U.S. Hospitals

By Ethan Covey

Although not yet associated with outbreaks in the United States, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are increasing and have limited treatment options. 

The CDC has released results of a genotypic and phenotypic characterization of this new superbug that experts are calling a phantom menace, because the oxacillinase (OXA)-48–like carbapenemases are difficult for microbiologists to detect (Emerg Infect Dis 2018;24[4]:700-709).

Enterobacteriaceae are resistant to