Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) infection control

Enterobacterales are a type of Gram-negative bacteria (germ) which normally live in our bowel. In some people these germs are resistant to a class of antibiotic called carbapenems, and these resistant germs are called Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales# (CPE). Carbapenems are antibiotics that are used as a last resort when patients have serious infections that are resistant to most other treatments. CPE can live harmlessly in the bowel but can cause infection if introduced into normally sterile sites such as the bladder or blood.

Notification

CPE is a notifiable disease in South Australia; refer to notifiable disease reporting web page for information on the notifiable process.

Screening & alerting recommendations for CPE contacts

The Infection control screening and alerting of CPE contacts Quick Reference Guide for contact screening and alerting recommendation is currently under review, please refer to the admission screening flowchart below.

To standardise screening practices the SA Health admission screening flowchart (PD 208KB) has been developed to align with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) Recommendations for the control of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), 2021.

Consumer information

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare (ACSQHC) Consumer information sheet.

Patient management recommendations for CPE

Infection control recommendations for patients with CPE have been detailed in the following Quick Reference Guides.

  1. Patient management in the acute healthcare facilities (PDF 84KB)
  2. Patient management in residential care facilities (PDF 94KB)

Further information

For further information on prevention of healthcare associated infection, contact SA Health's Infection Control Service.

# previously known as Carbapenemase-producing Enterbacteriaceae