TY - JOUR AU - Thomas, Genara Romero AU - Corso, Alejandra AU - Pasterán, Fernando AU - Shal, Justina AU - Sosa, Aldo AU - Pillonetto, Marcelo AU - de Souza Peral, Renata Tigulini AU - Hormazábal, Juan Carlos AU - Araya, Pamela AU - Saavedra, Sandra Yamile AU - Ovalle, Mariá Victoria AU - Jiménez Pearson, María Antonieta AU - Chacón, Grettel Chanto AU - Carbon, Eric AU - Mazariegos Herrera, Carmen Julia AU - Velásquez, Selene del Carmen González AU - Satan-Salazar, Carolina AU - Villavicencio, Fernando AU - Touchet, Nancy Melgarejo AU - Busignani, Sofía AU - Mayta-Barrios, Maritza AU - Ramírez-Illescas, Juan AU - Vega, Mariana López AU - Mogdasy, Cristina AU - Rosas, Verónica AU - Salgado, Nuris AU - Quiroz, Rodolfo AU - El-Omeiri, Nathalie AU - Galas, Marcelo Fabián AU - Ramón-Pardo, Pilar AU - Melano, Roberto Gustavo T1 - Increased Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales Bacteria in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 Pandemic T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2022 VL - 28 IS - 11 SP - 1 SN - 1080-6059 AB - During 2020–2021, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean reported clinical emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales that had not been previously characterized locally, increased prevalence of carbapenemases that had previously been detected, and co-production of multiple carbapenemases in some isolates. These increases were likely fueled by changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including empirical antibiotic use for potential COVID-19–related bacterial infections and healthcare limitations resulting from the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases. Strengthening antimicrobial resistance surveillance, epidemiologic research, and infection prevention and control programs and antimicrobial stewardship in clinical settings can help prevent emergence and transmission of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales. KW - COVID-19 KW - respiratory infections KW - severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 KW - SARS-CoV-2 KW - SARS KW - coronavirus disease KW - zoonoses KW - viruses KW - coronavirus KW - antimicrobial resistance KW - bacteria KW - carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales KW - enteric infections KW - food safety KW - Latin America KW - the Caribbean KW - Suggested citation for this article: Romero Thomas G KW - Corso A KW - Pasterán F KW - Shal J KW - Sosa A KW - Pillonetto M DO - 10.3201/eid2811.220415 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/28/11/22-0415_article ER - End of Reference