28 E. Coli (Carbapenem Resistant)

CDC Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales page

12 cases

Fewer than 5 deaths

41.7 % of cases were hospitalized

1 cases per 100,000 population


28.1 Epidemiologic Review

28.1.1 Disease Information

Overview: Carbapenem-resistant E. coli is a bacterium that is resistant to one or more carbapenem antibiotics. Carbapenemase-producing bacteria make enzymes called carbapenemases that inactivate carbapenems and other β-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins and cephalosporins. The five most common carbapenemases are KPC, NDM, VIM, OXA, and IMP.

Symptoms: Symptoms vary depending on the type of disease and some people may be asymptomatic.

Transmission: Person-to-person contact of infected stool or wounds. Contaminated medical equipment can also transmit disease.

Treatment: Treatment varies with each isolate. Some cases may be susceptible to a small number of antibiotics while others are pan-resistant, meaning no treatment is available.

Prevention Proper hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment and environmental cleaning practices help reduce the spread of disease. Practicing antibiotic stewardship could help in reducing antibiotic resistance.

28.1.2 Demographics

Demographic data is not displayed due to low counts.

28.1.3 Outbreaks

No outbreaks were identified for 2023.

28.1.4 Monthly and Historical Comparisons



Data for Utah and the CDC were retrieved from the CDC’s Notifiable Infectious Disease Data Tables. National and state data was not available from the CDC for this disease in the time range at time of report.

28.2 Key Things to Know

  • Common comorbidities among cases included renal disease, diabetes and obesity.
  • Of the cases who were hospitalized 43% had a stay in an intensive care unit.
  • 75% of isolates were resistant to ertapenem, 66% of isolates were resistant to meropenem, and 33% of isolates were resistant to imipenem.
  • 5 isolates were carbapenemase producers. When typed, 4 of the carbapenamases were NDM and 1 was KPC. All cases identifed to have NDM were associated with foreign travel.
  • 4 isolates (33%) produced carbapenamase. 3 Isolates were typed as NDM, 1 as KPC.
  • 5 isolates (42%) came from urine cultures.