Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in the sink traps of a Critical Patient Unit

Introduction: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are an important cause of health care associated infections (HAI). The main reservoir is constituted by infected and colonized patients; however, environmental reservoirs have also been identified. Objective: To detect the presence of CPE in the sink traps of the critical care unit for adult burn patients (UPC QMD) and the critical care unit for chronic pediatric patients (UCEP). Material and Method: Four samples of trap were collected from the sinks located inside the patient units at PICU and 10 at UPC QMD. The samples underwent a phenotypic and molecular study for the detection of carbapenemases at the Institute of Public Health of Chile. Results: In the UCEP no EPC strains were isolated. In UPC QMD, CPE was detected in 50% of the traps. Conclusions: In UPC QMD, the presence of CPE was observed in a high proportion of the tested sinks traps, which shows an environmental reservoir of multi-resistant bacteria.