← Back to guidelines
Infectious Disease184 papers

Infection caused by carbapenem resistant bacteria

Last edited: 4/16/2026

Overview

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infections, particularly those mediated by Metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) enzymes, pose significant therapeutic challenges due to limited treatment options 1.

Diagnosis

  • Blood cultures identifying CRE strains
  • Susceptibility testing confirming carbapenem resistance
  • Clinical signs of infection (e.g., fever, sepsis)
  • Imaging or other diagnostic tests to localize infection 1
  • Management

  • First-line treatment: Combination of ceftazidime-avibactam and aztreonam (AA) 1
  • Adjunctive therapies: Consider polymyxins if AA is not available or contraindicated
  • Supportive care: Appropriate fluid management, source control, and management of sepsis 1
  • Special Populations

  • No specific data provided in the abstracts for pregnancy, pediatrics, elderly, or comorbidities 1
  • Key Recommendations

  • Use the combination of ceftazidime-avibactam and aztreonam (AA) as a first-line treatment for bloodstream infections caused by MBL-producing CRE, associated with lower 30-day mortality compared to polymyxins (Evidence: Moderate) 1
  • Consider polymyxins as an alternative when AA is not feasible or contraindicated 1
  • Implement comprehensive supportive care measures including source control and sepsis management alongside antimicrobial therapy (Evidence: Expert opinion) 1
  • References

    1 Gupta N, Boodman C, Prayag P, Manesh A, Kumar TP. Ceftazidime-avibactam and aztreonam combination for Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales bloodstream infections with presumed . Expert review of anti-infective therapy 2024. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Ceftazidime-avibactam and aztreonam combination for Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales bloodstream infections with presumed Gupta N, Boodman C, Prayag P, Manesh A, Kumar TP Expert review of anti-infective therapy (2024)

    HemoChat

    by SPINAI

    Evidence-based clinical decision support powered by SNOMED-CT, Neo4j GraphRAG, and NASS/AO/NICE guidelines.

    ⚕ For clinical reference only. Not a substitute for professional judgment.

    © 2026 HemoChat. All rights reserved.
    Research·Pricing·Privacy & Terms·Refund·SNOMED-CT · NASS · AO Spine · NICE · GraphRAG