Which bacteria are commonly screened for in active surveillance programs?

Active surveillance programs often focus on monitoring specific pathogens that pose significant threats to public health and patient safety. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) stands out as a critical focus due to its high level of antibiotic resistance, making infections difficult to treat and often associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

The concern with CRE stems from its ability to transfer resistance genes to other bacteria, which can exacerbate the problem of antibiotic resistance. By rigorously screening for CRE, healthcare facilities can identify outbreaks early, implement targeted interventions, and ultimately protect vulnerable populations from the severe consequences of these infections.

While other bacteria like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae are relevant in various contexts, they do not present the same urgent and widespread resistance issues as CRE, making them less common targets of active surveillance programs that aim specifically to address the most critical antimicrobial resistance challenges.