Risk Factors of Okamoto et al for the Colonization of Patients in a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital with Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae

Patient selection: long-term acute-care hospital patients

Colonization pressure is defined as the number of colonized patients on a ward divided by the total number of patients on the ward.

Predictors of colonization with Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae:

(1) higher colonization pressure

(2) exposure to carbapenem

(3) high Charlson comorbidity index (mean 4)

Ways of reducing colonization pressure:

(1) use of private rooms

(2) strict cohort separation of colonized from non-colonized patients

(3) careful infection control practices