Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE)

Enterobacterales are a large order of different types of germs (bacteria) that commonly cause infections in healthcare settings. Examples of germs in the Enterobacterales order include Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Antibiotic resistance occurs when the germs no longer respond to the antibiotics designed to kill them. Enterobacterales bacteria are constantly finding new ways to avoid the effects of the antibiotics used to treat the infections they cause.

When Enterobacterales develop resistance to the group of antibiotics called carbapenems, the germs are called carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE).

CRE are difficult to treat because they do not respond to commonly used antibiotics. Occasionally CRE are resistant to all available antibiotics. CRE are a threat to public health.

Name Change

In 2020, a taxonomy change was adopted to use “Enterobacterales” as the name of a new scientific order. “Enterobacteriaceae ” are now a family within the “Enterobacterales” order, along with Erwinaceae, Pectobacteriaceae, Yersiniaceae, Hafniaceae, Morganellaceae, and Budvicaceae.