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.
Keywords: COVID-19; Corso A; Latin America; Pasterán F; Pillonetto M; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; Shal J; Sosa A; Suggested citation for this article: Romero Thomas G; antimicrobial resistance; bacteria; carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; enteric infections; et al. Increased detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales bacteria in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Nov [date cited]. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2811.220415; food safety; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; the Caribbean; viruses; zoonoses.