Fecal microbiota of patients over time at one long-term acute care hospital. Homo sapiens fecal microbiota

Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) pose an increasing public health threat, particulary in healthcare-associated environments. One such organism of increasing concern are the carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE), for which few effective antibiotics exist. Because gastrointestinal tract colonization precedes infection in many patients, preventing initial acquisition in the GI tract is one potential strategy to limit this serious disease. This longitudinal study aimed to identify risk factors associated with acquisition of CPE, including patient clinical variables and the resident gut microbiota throughout patient stay, at one longterm acute care hospital.