After a strain of E. coli resistant to last resort antibiotics was identified in the U.S., the CDC released a health alert reiterating the importance of measures to prevent the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Here are four recommendations for healthcare providers and facilities from the health alert, issued June 13.
1. Healthcare providers should follow the CDC's Standard and Contact Precautions for any patient colonized or infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
2. Facilities should follow manufacturers' instructions for device cleaning and reprocessing.
3. Healthcare facilities should make sure rooms where patients with antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections stayed receive thorough daily and terminal cleaning.
4. If a healthcare facility or lab identifies bacteria with the mcr-1 gene, the entity should follow local reporting requirements and notify local or state authorities, clinicians caring for the patient and the infection control staff as soon as possible,