Fecal Carriage of Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacterales and Associated Factors Among Admitted Patients in Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

PURPOSE: The Enterobacterales family colonizes the human gut as normal flora in all age groups, with bacterial infections being the most common cause. Resistance is currently observed in all normal flora. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of fecal carriage of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), and associated factors in the faeces of admitted patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 384 rectal swabs were collected from various wards in admitted patients who have consented to participate. The specimens were inoculated on a MacConkey agar plate, and then they were incubated at 37 °C for 18 to 24 hours. Using the BD Phoenix(TM) M50 compact system identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed. Using the modified carbapenem inactivation method, it was determined whether the carbapenem-resistant bacterial isolate produced carbapenemase or not. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales carriage and carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales in admitted patients was 17.2% (95%, Confidence Interval: 13.3–21.1%) and 7% (95%, Confidence Interval: 4.7–9.9%), respectively. The predominate carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in fecal carriage was K. pneumoniae, 15.4% (23/149), E. cloacae 15.4% (6/39), followed by E. coli 12.4% (37/307) of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) isolate. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales carriage isolates showed large level of resistance to ciprofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Prior intake of antibiotics (Odds Ratio 2.42, 95% CI: 11.186–4.95) was significantly associated with higher carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales carriage. CONCLUSION: We observed a high prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales carriage and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales among admitted patients. There were only amikacin and colistin that could be effective for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales isolates. Hence, the control of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales carriage should be given priority by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales screening for fecal of admitted patients, and adhering to good infection prevention practice in hospital settings.