Hospital Readmissions in Patients With Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

Various transmission routes contribute to spread of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in hospitalized patients. Patients with readmissions during which CRKP is again isolated ("CRKP readmission") potentially contribute to transmission of CRKP. To evaluate CRKP readmissions in the Consortium on Resistance against Carbapenems in K. pneumoniae (CRaCKLe). Cohort study from December 24, 2011, through July 1, 2013. Multicenter consortium of acute care hospitals in the Great Lakes region. All patients who were discharged alive during the study period were included. Each patient was included only once at the time of the first CRKP-positive culture. All readmissions within 90 days of discharge from the index hospitalization during which CRKP was again found were analyzed. Risk factors for CRKP readmission were evaluated in multivariable models. Fifty-six (20%) of 287 patients who were discharged alive had a CRKP readmission. History of malignancy was associated with CRKP readmission (adjusted odds ratio [adjusted OR], 3.00 [95% CI, 1.32-6.65], P