Carbapenem-resistant among hospitalized patients in Cape Town, South Africa: molecular epidemiology and characterization.

Background: The molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in Cape Town remains largely unknown.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the molecular epidemiology, resistome, virulome and mobilome of carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) within Cape Town to guide therapy, antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control practices.

Methods: Eighty-five CRKP isolates from hospitalized patients underwent WGS as part of a prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional study, conducted between 1 November 2020 and 30 November 2022, across public-sector and private-sector hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales among hospitalized patients in Cape Town, South Africa: clinical and microbiological epidemiology.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are a substantial problem in Cape Town. CRE epidemiology is largely unknown and mortality remains high.

Objectives: To describe and characterize the clinical and microbiological epidemiology of CRE within Cape Town hospitals to better inform therapy with regard to current and novel antibiotics, as well as improve antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), and infection prevention and control (IPC).