Hospital Outbreak of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Producing New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase - Denver, Colorado, 2012

On Aug 16, 2012, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was notified of two patients at an acute-care hospital in Denver with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, specifically Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), isolated from respiratory specimens during July-August. Both isolates produced New Delhi metallo-betalactamase (NDM). A review of microbiology records identified a third patient with NDM-producing CRKP isolated from a respiratory specimen, admitted in May. Active surveillance cultures in September identified an additional five patients colonized with NDM-producing CRKP. Pisney et al detail an investigation that was launched by the hospital and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to guide infection control measures and limit transmission.